Mum poisoned 2 daughters over infidelity accusations

Mum poisoned 2 daughters over infidelity accusations

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By Staff Reporter

A MOTHER driven to the edge by her husband's constant beatings and accusations of infidelity killed her two daughters by lacing their food with rate poison.

On Tuesday, Pamhidzai Sendirawo of Mupanduki Village in Uzumba Maramba Pfugwa, Mashonaland East Province, was jailed for six years by the High Court for murdering the two girls.

She admitted to giving her daughters rat poison, justifying herself by telling the court that she had an abusive husband, and that she also wanted to kill herself after killing them.

Sendirawo said she realised that no one was going to take care of her toddlers if she killed herself and left them behind, since they were both from a previous marriage.

She also told the court that her marriage to one Andrew Nyamhandu was not stable as he bashed her several times accusing her of infidelity.

The court also heard that at one time she sent her children to her brother but he returned them without giving reason. This, she said, prompted her to buy rat poison that she gave to the children.

She said she had made several reports to Nhakiwa Police Station but the policeman did not pursue the case.

On the fateful day, she said, she had a dispute with her husband and she was severely assaulted. She had decided to take her life but she thought of her children and decided to end their lives too.

Sendirawo pleaded with the court to forgive her arguing that she did not have a choice as she was subjected to torture everyday.

"My children had witnessed me being bashed on several occassions, and my in-laws always supported my husband when he assaulted me," Sendirawo said in mitigation.

"The only reason why I am alive today is that my husband restrained me from drinking the same poison."

The judge conceded that she was extremely helpless, but noted that could not extenuate Sendirawo's moral blomeworthiness.
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