Woman earns 3 years for torturing boy

Mbeya. A primary court in Mbeya Urban has sentenced Mwanahawa Nassoro, 32, to three years in prison after she was found guilty of torturing and wounding a three-year-old child (name withheld).

Ms Nassoro, who is an aunt to the child, was arraigned to answer charges of torturing and wounding the boy, whom she was living with at her home.

The child was admitted to Mbeya Referral Hospital last week, complaining of severe pain resulting from torture.

Delivering the verdict, magistrate Salome Mwakyosi said she was satisfied with the evidence and testimonies against the accused.

“Apart from the evidence which proves beyond reasonable doubt that she committed the offence, the accused did plead guilty on the charges against her,” she said.

It was earlier alleged that Ms Nassoro committed the offence on March 12, this year.

Prosecution alleged that the accused beat up the child, who she locked in her house for several hours without offering him food.

It was further alleged that local leaders, who came to discover the boy was suffering,, apprehended the woman and handed the accused over to a nearby police station.

The prosecution presented four witnesses, including the child himself, who gave his testimony after his condition had improved, to prove their case against the accused.

In a yet interesting but heart wrenching scenario, when the magistrate asked the child about who tortured him, the boy only pointed a finger at the accused three times without uttering any word.