Three years in jail for pouring acid into husband’s eyes

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The First grade magistrate court in Mchinji District on Friday sentenced 34 year-old Tereza Njirankhondo to three years in prison for pouring acid into her husband’s eyes after a misunderstanding erupted between the two.

The court heard through state prosecutor Sergeant Beatrice Kankhuni that the two who got married in 2002 and have five children are on separation since the husband has been accusing his wife of having extra marital affairs.

cuffsAccording to Kankhuni, on September 12 this year the wife went after her hubby Brighton Sosten (40) and got him at Masautso village in the district where she confiscated a bicycle and other household items.

This development fueled a fight and in the process the wife hit the husband with a hammer on his back before pouring acid into his eyes. A medical report which the prosecutor tendered showed that the husband sustained a deep cut in the head, bruises on his back and suffered corneal burns.

The woman was arrested and charged with acts intended to cause grievous harm which is contrary to section 235 of the penal code.

She denied the charge but due to the overwhelming evidence against her during the trial, First Grade Magistrate Rodwell Major Phiri found her guilty.

While passing the sentence, Phiri said cases of gender based violence within many families are on the increase hence the need for offenders to face proper justice so as to deter would be offenders.

He later ordered the accused to remain in prison where she should serve a period of three years imprisonment with hard labour.

The convict hails from Mikonga 2 in the area of Traditional Authority Zulu in Mchinji.