New details have emerged in the ongoing hearing of a case in which two parents are facing charges of subjecting their toddler to torture by inserting needles in her body.
The Court heard on Tuesday that the parents were well aware about the small pieces of metal, contrary to their initial reports. The couple had claimed that they learnt about the needles in the girl’s body after her examination in hospital.
Speaking at the Thika Law Courts, a children’s officer, Rebecca Kariuki, said she received the information from Isaac Gichura and Jacinta Ndunge’s oldest child after visiting the couple’s home in Kiganjo, Thika.
“The couple’s oldest child said the parents knew baby Jane Wairimu had needles lodged in her buttocks, and that the baby had developed a habit of crying uncontrollably,” said Kariuki in her testimony.
She further told the court that Gichura was married to another woman and they all lived together.
“He was living with both of the wives in his small rental house in Kiganjo,” she said.
“Gichura’s second wife was not at home during our visit to their house late December 2017.”
Isaac Gichura, 41, and Jacinta Ndunge, 31, had initially told doctors at the Thika Level Five Hospital that their child was suffering from fever.
After an examination, 13 sewing needles were found lodged in the minor’s body much to the shock of the whole country.
The parents maintain that they learnt about the needles in the girl’s body after her examination in hospital; and not before her admission as claimed by the children’s officer.
They further claim that they are unaware of how the needles got into the girl’s body.
Two witnesses had been lined up to testify on Tuesday, but only one did.
Resident Magistrate Brenda Bartoo ordered that the doctor who attended to the baby be given a chance to testify before the investigation’s officer.
The case will be heard on March 21, when the two witnesses will appear before the court.
