Andile Tshuma, Court Reporter
A MAGISTRATE has turned down a bid by a woman to forgive her husband who scalded her with porridge, ordering him to perform community service.
Lovington Phiri of Mabutweni suburb poured hot porridge on his sleeping wife’s face after she spent two nights away from home. She sustained burns on her face, hands and chest and was hospitalised.
Phiri appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube charged with physical abuse under the Domestic Violence Act.
Ms Dube lashed out at Phiri for his actions which she described as evil and cruel.
“I cannot even imagine what was going on in your head when you were planning how you were going to execute your demonic act.
“How do you watch your own wife fall asleep, then switch on the stove, bring water to boil, make some porridge, and then pour it over your wife’s face and body, in her sleep! How does a normal person do that?”
“You are lucky because your wife has been coming to this court and pleading with us to let you go. Such love is rare. You deserve to rot in prison, but because she has come here more than twice asking that we do not jail you, we shall grant her wishes. But you will not go scotfree. You are sentenced to perform 750 hours of community service here at Western Commonage Courts,” said Ms Dube.
For the State, Mr Mufaro Mageza said a dispute arose after Catherine Mpofu spent two days away from home without notifying her husband of her whereabouts.
“On October 4 2016 at around 12PM, the complainant left her place of residence to her aunt’s place in Luveve without notifying her husband. She spent two days at her aunt’s residence without communicating with her husband,” said the prosecutor.
The court heard that when she returned to her matrimonial home on October 6 at around 6PM, a heated argument erupted between the couple.
She later retired to bed.
On the same night at around 10PM, Phiri prepared some porridge and scalded his wife.
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