Dad held for poisoning family

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Published Feb 12, 2013

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Potchefstroom - A man appeared in the Potchefstroom Magistrate's Court on Tuesday for the alleged murder of his eight-month-old baby, North West police said.

He was also facing charges of attempted murder for allegedly attempting to poison his wife and two children on a farm in the Klipdrift area, near Potchefstroom, on Sunday morning, said Captain Amanda Funani.

“The man was apparently beating the wife when she ran away, leaving behind her five-year-old boy and eight-month-old baby girl,” said Funani.

The 24-year-old father allegedly forced the children to drink a liquid substance said to have been poisonous.

The mother, 20, was apparently forced to eat poisoned corn when she returned moments later.

A neighbour reported the incident to the farm-owner, who alerted police.

The girl was declared dead on the scene. The five-year-old boy and his mother were taken to Potchefstroom Hospital.

They were reported to be in a serious but stable condition. The father was arrested later. - Sapa

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