Zim man faces life sentence for striking wife with sauce pan eight times, pouring boiling water
By Agencies
LIVERPOOL. – A Zimbabwean man faces a life sentence after attempting to murder his wife by hitting her on the head with a saucepan and splashing boiling water at her.
Abigail Chinorwadza was left fighting for her life following the incident at a house on Snaefell Avenue in Tuebrook earlier this year.
She suffered serious head injuries.
Her husband Louden Chagona previously denied attempted murder in connection with the incident and had been due to stand trial next month.
But, appearing before Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, his counsel John Rowan asked for the 50-year-old, of Snaefell Avenue, to be rearraigned.
Chagona, who wore a navy blue fleece in the dock and was assisted by an interpreter during the brief hearing, then changed his plea to guilty.
He will now be sentenced on November 13, and was further remanded into custody until this date.
Adjourning the case, Judge Stuart Driver KC told him: “You will appear via video on the 13th of November, when you will be sentenced.
“As you know, this is a very serious case and there will be a very substantial sentence. You are remanded in custody. Go with the officer please.”
Chagona nodded slightly as he was led to the cells.
Judge Driver then told Rowan at the conclusion of the hearing:
“Life imprisonment and extended sentences will have to be considered.”
It is understood that Chinorwadza was struck eight times over the head with a saucepan during the assault before having boiling water poured over her while she was lying injured on the ground, leaving her with burns to her arm.
Photographs of the pan captured at the scene, seen by the ECHO, showed the utensil bloodstained and bent out of shape as a result of the force of the attack, with pools of blood having also been left around the kitchen.
Chagona, who apparently flew into a rage after having a tuna sandwich thrown at him, is believed to have arrived in the United Kingdom from Zimbabwe with their young daughter only three weeks before the attack, in order to live with his partner.
She had previously been resident in this country for a number of years.
Having been rushed to hospital, her condition initially said to be critical but stable.
But the court previously heard that she was later discharged as an inpatient.
Neighbours told the ECHO that they were shocked by the events unfolding in what they described as a “quiet” road, where a white tent was seen erected outside a house as forensics officers conducted investigations.
One resident said: “I was out at the time and I came home to police outside. When I walked past, there was blood on the wall behind the front door.
“But it’s really sad, the poor woman. Hopefully she’ll be okay. You see police in the area, like on Windsor Road, but nothing down here in the whole time I’ve lived here. This is a quiet road. It’s quite nice.” – Liverpool Echo
