Grade 7 Pupil Stoned To Death By Mentally Challenged Man
A 12-year-old girl from Gweru was struck and killed by a mentally-ill man on her way home from a grade 7 exam.
The tragic incident happened on Tuesday afternoon as the girl identified as Natasha Manunure was walking home from Sandara Primary School where she had just taken a Grade Seven General Paper exam.
The unfortunate incident was confirmed by Acting Midlands police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende who said the incident occurred near Mupata Township Shopping Center in Gweru:
I can confirm that we are investigating a case of a Grade Seven pupil who was struck with a stone by a man suspected to be mentally disturbed in the head.
The girl died on the spot after the assault. It is suspected that the girl was coming from writing and examination at a local school when the incident happened.
It is alleged that when the girl got to Mtapa Shopping Centre in Mtapa High Density suburb a man emerged from behind and hit her with a stone near her ear.
The suspect has been arrested and is in police custody. The suspect will be examined as it is suspected that he could be suffering from mental illness
Police said the girl died on the spot as passers-by vainly tried to administer first aid treatment as she bled profusely from the head where she was struck.
Recovered at the scene was a blood-stained Agriculture past examination paper the girl was said to have been concentrating on when she was struck from behind.
Natasha’s grandmother, Mrs Sophia Zivanai, yesterday said she was devastated that her granddaughter who had a bright future, died under such circumstances.
“I’m so hurt and I am in pain, how could this happen to her. It’s not the first time that this mentally challenged man has been on the wrong side of the law and it’s unfortunate that this has happened to my granddaughter.
“We have lost an intelligent child and we are yet to decide on the funeral arrangements.”
