A man in Chiradzulu is in Police custody for allegedly killing his 12 year step daughter because she cut sugarcane from their field without permission.

Chiradzulu Police spokesperson Victoria Mwanza confirmed of the development and identified the suspect as Mackson Makoka.

Mwanza told the press that the deceased identified as Chimwemwe Mawala went to the family garden to cut sugarcane but this did not please her stepfather.

“Instead of advising the girl, Makoka started beating up the girl and she sustained serious injuries. The girl was on Monday taken to hospital where she was treated as an out patient,” said Mwanza.

However, on Tuesday her condition worsened and died when she arrived at the hospital.

Postmortem results showed that the girl died of fractured skull.

Makoka hails from Maulana village in chief Mpama’s area in Chiradzulu.