Harare (New Ziana) -A 58-year-old man from Juru in Murehwa, Mashonaland East province committed suicide last Saturday after axing his daughter-in-law in a case which has left the community and the police puzzled.

This comes as four murder cases were reported around the country over the weekend.

In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Farai Rupondo (58) of Njerere village in Juru drank poison after killing Maybe Boboneya (20).

Rupondo also left his son Shepherd and their two-year-old baby nursing injuries.

The baby was admitted at Shamva Hospital following the attack, whose motive Asst Comm Nyathi said remains unknown.

Rupondo, who was armed with bottles, some petrol and an axe, set fire to the couple’s grass-thatched bedroom as his son Shepherd, Boboneya and their baby were sleeping inside.

Shepherd escaped through the window only to be struck in the face with a bottle.

Rupondo struck the infant several times with an axe on the neck while Boboneya died on the spot after being struck on the head and leg with the axe.

Meanwhile Ass Comm Nyathi said police in Gweru are investigating a case in which a 17-year-old teenager was found dead with multiple stab wounds all over the body in a bush near Village 74, Huchu in Mvuma on the same day.

The teenager had earlier boarded a silver Toyota Noah in Chivhu intending to go to Masvingo before being attacked by three men and a woman along the way.

The suspects stole valuables as well as US$900 and 1 000 Rand from the victim and two other passengers who were also in the vehicle.

In another case, an unidentified man was found dead with multiple bruises all over the body by the roadside at the 62 km peg along the Gweru-Silobela road while in Harare, a 56-year-old man was found dead with swollen hands, fracture on the leg and a laceration on the chin at a house in New Tafara.

New Ziana