Woman arrested for biting baby

GALE NGAKANE
Correspondent | Tuesday February 9, 2010 00:00

The wounds, on the toddler, which stayed with its mother at Tumediso Ward in Matshelagabedi, were said to be consistent with human bites.

Matsiloje Police Station commander, Superintendent Booker Osupile, who confirmed the incident, said never before in his entire police career has he come across such an incident.

'I have read about a baby whose parents subjected her to cigarette burns as they felt they did not want her as they had not planned for her. It happened in faraway countries 'But, it is the first time I have heard of someone biting an 11-months old baby in Botswana. What is the world coming to?' a shocked Osupile asked.

The 11-months old girl, whose name is known to Mmegi, was rushed to hospital on Friday with wounds consistent with human bites all over her body, and a fractured femur.

A woman suspected to have bitten and assaulted the girl has been detained. Osupile said by Monday, that they were taking a woman aged between 20 and 30 years of age for psychiatric assessment.

'This matter is still very new to us. Our investigations are at a very early stage,' he said.

Sketchy information reaching Mmegi is to the effect that the mother of the girl left her in the care of a neighbour as she rushed home to Tshesebe where she was called at short notice.

On her return she found the baby writhing in pain with bite wounds all over her body and broken limbs.