A man from Gweru, Midlands Province, has handed himself to the police after locking seven family members, including his wife and kids, in a house before petrol-bombing it after a domestic dispute.
Darlington Miti (42), reportedly attempted to kill himself by consuming poison some two weeks before committing the dastardly crime.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson, Inspector, Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident which occurred in Raylands suburb Gweru on Thursday night. He said:
The suspect, Darlington Miti (42) has since surrendered himself to the police and is now in custody. He is now facing attempted murder charges and will appear in court soon.
Insp Mahoko said property was destroyed in the attempted arson attack while all family members escaped unhurt.
Miti’s wife Chipo Mafunda, her two children from a previous marriage, her 3-year child with Miti and two other family members were in the house when he set it on fire. Added Insp Mahoko:
It is said Miti had a misunderstanding with his wife on Wednesday night. He then left the house only to return home around 2 am the following morning armed with a five-litre container full of petrol.
He then sprinkled the fuel around the house before setting the house on fire together with the wife’s car which was parked outside.
Mafunda told The Herald that they have been having some problems in their marriage and recently Miti wrote a suicide note and later consumed termite poison.
She said they rushed him to the hospital and he spent two weeks in the intensive care unit.
Mafunda said she is into some business and was fending for the family but Miti was now accusing her of infidelity.