The Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court has sentenced Martha Victor, 32, to three years in prison for injuring her 4-year-old stepson for urinating inside their house.

According to police prosecutor Ted Namaona, the convict married the victim’s father four years ago. Namaona added that the husband works in Chiradzulu and only visits his family every fortnight.

He explained: “During his recent visit on February 16, 2024, the husband found his son in agony with a swollen face, black eyes, and bruises on both hands. “This prompted him to question the child, who revealed that his stepmother had been mistreating him whenever he was away including the previous day, when she assaulted and pushed him against a wall for urinating inside the house.”

In court, Martha pleaded guilty to the charge of acts intended to cause grievous harm and requested for leniency, citing that her 3-year-old child would suffer if imprisoned.

But this did not move senior resident magistrate Muhammad Chande who later slapped her with a three-year-jail-term in order for her to reform.

Victor hails from Mtalika Village, Sub-Traditional Authority Chiponde in Mangochi.

Source: Nation Publications Limited