Midnight Horror : Woman Slaughters Husband, Two Children, Escapes Murder Conviction

Midnight Horror : Woman Slaughters Husband, Two Children, Escapes Murder Conviction

A Zimbabwean woman who killed her husband and two young children after reportedly struggling with severe financial hardship has been acquitted of three murder charges by the High Court in Bulawayo following psychiatric findings that she was suffering from a mental disorder when the killings occurred.

The woman, identified as 34-year-old Happiness Chimbangu, appeared before Justice Donald Ndirowei over the deaths of her husband, Edwin Chimbangu, 35, their four-year-old son, Promise, and their seven-month-old daughter, Prudence.

However, the court ruled that she could not be held criminally responsible for the killings because of her mental condition at the time of the incident.

According to details presented before the court, the tragic incident occurred in the early hours of January 30, 2025, at the family’s residence in Cowdray Park, a suburb of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

The court heard that Chimbangu had expressed suicidal thoughts the previous day, January 29, when she visited her mother’s residence at about 3pm and asked her to take care of her two children, saying she intended to end her life.

Her mother reportedly counselled her before she returned to her matrimonial home.

Concerned about her condition, her husband later contacted his mother-in-law at about 10pm, asking her to come to their residence because his wife was again displaying suicidal tendencies.

The woman’s mother subsequently arrived with a relative, while two church members, identified as Jethro Sibanda and Shepherd Ndlovu, also joined the family to counsel her.

The group reportedly spent several hours speaking with Chimbangu in an attempt to calm her down.

They eventually left shortly after midnight after believing that she had recovered and was no longer a danger to herself.

However, the situation reportedly took a devastating turn barely 10 minutes after they departed.

The court heard that at about 12.10am on January 30, Chimbangu realised that her husband and children had fallen asleep before picking up a metal digging tool, commonly described as a metal digger, inside the house.

She allegedly attacked her husband, striking him on the head and killing him instantly.

She subsequently attacked their four-year-old son, inflicting fatal injuries to his back, face and head, before turning on the seven-month-old baby girl and striking her on the face and head.

All three victims died in the attack.

The court further heard that at about 2am, Chimbangu went to her uncle and confessed that she had killed her husband and children.

Her uncle, identified as Moyo, reportedly took her to a police station and reported the incident, leading to her arrest.

Police officers who visited the residence recovered the bloodstained metal tool allegedly used in the attack.

Following her arrest, Chimbangu was referred for psychiatric evaluation at Mlondolozi High Security Prison in Bulawayo.

Medical examinations conducted by a doctor identified as Dr Chinova in February 2025, May 22, 2025, and September 30, 2025, reportedly established that she was suffering from a mental disorder.

Further court proceedings established that she had been suffering from schizoaffective disorder when she committed the offences and was mentally incapacitated to the extent that she could not be held criminally responsible for her actions.

Both the prosecution and defence reportedly agreed that she should receive a special verdict under Section 29 of Zimbabwe’s Mental Health Act.

Justice Ndirowei consequently found her not guilty of the three murder charges on account of her mental condition.

However, the ruling did not mean that she was immediately released from custody.

The judge ordered that Chimbangu remain at Mlondolozi for psychiatric treatment and continued management until she is certified mentally fit by a medical doctor.

 

The case has renewed attention on the importance of recognising and responding appropriately to severe mental health crises, particularly when individuals exhibit suicidal tendencies or other warning signs that could place themselves and members of their families at risk.

 

Midnight Horror : Woman Slaughters Husband, Two Children, Escapes Murder Conviction