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Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau

A 53-YEAR-OLD man from Juta village in Beitbridge has been arrested along with his wife (32) for torturing and attempting to kill his 12-year-old stepson.

The couple would, on several occasions, starve, tie the victim to a tree and beat him up with bicycle chains, hot wires, and logs, saying they didn’t want a boy child at their homestead.

The duo, who cannot be named to protect the child, have since been dragged before Beitbridge regional magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa, charged with attempted murder.

They were remanded in custody on Thursday for trial on December 4. Prosecuting, Mr Willbrought Muleya said sometime in September this year on dates unknown to the State, the man was living with his wife and her biological son and his younger sister in Juta village under Chief Tshitaudze area.

He said the two accused persons within that period used to tie the boy with a rope to a tree and assault him all over the body with a bicycle chain, sticks, and hot wires and starve him.

During the assault, they would starve the juvenile of food, telling him they did not want a boy child at their homestead.

The State said later in the same month, the man took the stepson with fresh wounds (all over his body) to his biological father in Ngundu under Masvingo province.

The complainant was taken to Mwenezi Hospital for treatment by his biological father, who also reported the matter to the police, leading to the two accused persons’ arrest.