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Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
The 14-year-old boy from Gweru, who recently went berserk and allegedly murdered a 41-year-old maid in cold blood in a dispute over a memory card appeared in court yesterday.

The boy reportedly attempted to commit suicide when news of the callous killing began to spread.

The boy from Mkoba Village 20 in Gweru was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gweru magistrate Ms Judith Taruvinga facing murder.

He was remanded in custody to January 22 for trial and was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

The State, led by Mr Daniel Tafuma, alleged that on Sunday last week at around 11pm, the boy fatally struck Nyarai Mudonzwa with a hoe on the head in an argument over a memory card.

After committing the crime, the boy dragged the body into the toilet and locked himself in the house for two days before attempting to commit suicide by drinking a cleaning detergent when neighbours alerted the police.

The court heard that the matter came to light when a suspicious neighbour who overheard the fight went to the house after failing to see any movement outside for the two days.

The neighbour knocked on the door, but there was no response, despite hearing the boy’s movements inside the house.

It was further alleged that the neighbour alerted the police and the lad attempted to escape through the roof before downing the detergent.

The boy was later rescued by police and neighbours who rushed him to Gweru Provincial Hospital where he recovered.