THE Chisamba woman who killed her eight-year-old step daughter and poured hot water on her husband has appeared in court for murder and attempted murder.

“The first charge was murder, while the second charge is attempted murder. She has already appeared in court for murder,” Police spokesperson Esther Mwaata-Katongo stated.

Police in Central Province a week ago arrested Banda for murdering her eight-year-old stepdaughter.

Banda was initially picked by police for pouring hot water on her husband while he was asleep and is currently admitted to the University Teaching Hospital.

“Police in Central Province have arrested a female adult identified as Charity Banda aged 36, of Fringilla Compound, also a sales woman at Fringilla Butchery in Chisamba, in connection with the murder of her step daughter aged eight years on 07th December, 2016 (whom she buried in their yard). To disguise the whole ordeal, she planted some sweet potatoes on top. The accused person led the Police to the scene and the body was exhumed. Post-mortem was conducted and results indicated a broken skull. The remains have been handed over to the deceased’s relatives who have buried them,” stated Mwaata-Katongo.

“All started when the husband came to check on the family and inquired about his daughter whom he had not seen since December, 2016. The accused person, who was a stepmother to the girl, claimed to have taken the girl to a boarding school in Mwachisompola area. Whenever the husband visited, she pretended the girl was in school.”