The High Court has acquitted a Shamva man of a murder charge despite killing his minor daughter in cold blood last year after he went into a “trance” at his homestead in Madhishi Village.
High Court judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi ruled that Zexteen Dzemwa was not in his right mind when he fatally struck his daughter with an axe.
According to NewZimbabwe.com, witnesses who testified also told the court they were still in shock because Dzemwa loved his children dearly to hurt them.
They also told the court that on the day Dzemwa murdered his child, he acted like someone who was possessed as it was difficult to apprehend and tie him to a tree.
Dzemwa reportedly only regained his senses after he was told he had killed his daughter and the police had arrived to arrest him.
In court, the accused defended himself saying he did not remember the details of the fateful day and believed there was an external force that caused him to commit the crime.
The court heard that Dzemwa was left attending to his two daughters whilst his wife went to pray at a mountain.
He reportedly proceeded to prepare breakfast for them and saw what looked like a snake on the fireplace.
Dzemwa allegedly started singing hymns denouncing evil spirits. He then sent his other daughter to collect a bible from her mum who was praying in the mountain close to their homestead.
As his daughter was returning to the homestead, Dzemwa’s wife saw her husband suddenly striking their other girl who had remained home with an axe.
She screamed for help and neighbours struggled to subdue him as he threatened to kill them as well.