Jail for man for burning own son’s hands over food
The First Grade Magistrate Court in the northern city of Mzuzu has slapped 32 year old man a 114 months imprisonment with hard labor sentence for scalding his son’s hands because he had tested his meal without authority.
The convict, Master Zulu’s pleas for a non-custodial sentence failed to impress the court to let him free.
He prayed for leniency fearing that both his pregnant wife and aging parents would suffer if he is locked behind bars because he is the sole bread winner
This is despite the fact that the Court had convicted Zulu on his own plea of guilty to the offence of Acts intended to cause grievous harm contrary to section 235 of the Penal Code.
The Court heard that on July, 26 this year the convict arrived at his house late in the evening and demanded his breakfast.
“But he got annoyed upon learning that this 12 year old son had earlier taken meal. He did show any anger but just silently put a frying pan full of cooking oil on the fire. When the oil was boiling he grabbed his son’s hands and dipped them in the oil,” Police Prosecutor Foster Sayidi said.
However, Sayidi pleaded with the Court to give a deterrent sentence despite the fact the convict was a first offender.
Magistrate Phiri, who is renowned for being ‘no nonsense’ firstly quashed Zulu mitigation saying it is the duty of the courts to protect children.
Phiri said that the sentence would be a consolation to the victim who will have to live and suffer trauma for the rest of his life.
