Man in court for chopping off 'cheating' wife's nose

Kwale, Kenya: A man has been charged in a Kwale court with chopping off his pregnant wife's nose because she allegedly engaged in an extra-marital affair.

In a strange tale that baffled many, an attentive court was told of a bizarre arrangement in which the accused, who was suffering from erectile dysfunction, had initially hired a man to sleep with his wife.

Chikope Mwaruwa was charged on Wednesday with causing grievous body harm to his wife by slashing her nose and the fingers of her left hand in a brutal attack in Mukundi village, Mangawani location of Kwale County on July 22, this year.

The court was told how the pregnant woman at first declined to be part of Mwaruwa's plan.

Mwaruwa pleaded not guilty before Kwale Principal Magistrate Elizabeth Usui.

He first appeared before Resident Magistrate Christine Njagi on July 23 but could not plead to the charges because his wife was still nursing injuries at the Coast General Hospital.

The woman said the man she is accused of sleeping with was initially brought to the homestead by her husband, who tried to persuade her to sleep with him, according to court documents.

"He came home one evening with the stranger and insisted that I sleep with the man but I refused and told him if he wanted me to sleep with him, everyone including the elders must be made aware," she said.

One time, she claimed, Mwaruwa undressed her to physically ascertain whether she had been sleeping with another man.

On the fateful day, according to the prosecution, the woman had gone to the stranger's home only to be caught there by her suspicious husband who took her to the local chief. They later went home where she was attacked.

On Wednesday, the woman gave a moving account of what transpired on July 22 and her ordeal at the hands of her husband of four years.

"On that night, my husband went outside claiming he was going to relieve himself. I did not know he had gone to pick a 'jembe' (hoe)," the woman told the court.

She said Mwaruwa attempted to strangle her first and then struck her with the hoe after a struggle. She said she passed out.

A man has been charged in a Kwale court with chopping off his pregnant wife's nose because she allegedly engaged in an extra-marital affair.

"I regained consciousness after a few minutes and decided to open the door to seek help. When I stepped out, I saw him sitting there and he looked surprised that I was not dead," she told the court.

She said when Mwaruwa realised she was not dead, he attacked her with a club until she fainted again. She was taken to hospital by neighbours.

Her husband, who thought he had killed her, presented himself at Kinango Police Station.

A pensive Mwaruwa asked for leniency in the courtroom, insisting he was remorseful.

"It is my first offence and I love my wife and fully regret what I did. It was out of provocation and I will not repeat it," Mwaruwa said.

Mwaruwa had initially pleaded guilty but changed his mind and begged for a lenient bond, which had been set at Sh100,000. It was reduced to Sh50,000.

The case will be mentioned on December 8 and hearing resumes on January 6 next year.