A 42-YEAR-OLD man from Sauerstown suburb in Bulawayo has appeared in court for allegedly severely beating up his 11-year-old step daughter causing serious chest injuries.

Thembinkosi Sibanda allegedly assaulted the minor with a baton until she also suffered a swollen scalp.

Sibanda pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi.
The magistrate remanded him in custody to August 22 for trial.

Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said on June 19 this year at around 7PM, Sibanda arrived home drunk and found his step daughter preparing supper in the company of her stepbrother whose age was not given.
“The accused person allegedly took a baton from his bedroom and hit the girl on the head several times.

He then commanded his son to also beat the minor using that same baton but he refused.

The man then took the baton from him in an attempt to beat the girl again but he failed to do so as she managed to block him using her hands and took the baton away,” Mr Mageza said.

He said Sibanda then took out a cellphone from his pocket and hit the girl on the head causing her to bleed excessively.

The prosecutor said Sibanda stopped assaulting the minor when his mother, Mrs Mauren Sibanda, got home and instructed him to stop assaulting the girl.

Mr Mageza said the minor left the kitchen and went to the bathroom.
Mrs Sibanda then asked the accused person to call an ambulance while she helped the minor to wash her head.
Mrs Sibanda reported the matter to the police leading to her son’s arrest.State media