A UNITED Nations diplomat Daniel Fussum was allegedly stabbed to death by his son, Niyata, 23, at their Mount Pleasant home, Harare, on Saturday after a quarrel.
Niyata also allegedly stabbed her mother, Jordanos Zerom, who is battling for her life in hospital.
The accused, a student at the University of NHL Stenden of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, apperared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda yesterday charged with murder and attempted murder after allegedly stabbed to death his father and mother 13 times.
He reportedly went berserk after a quarrel arose between him and his parents after he demanded to be independent.
Niyata was remanded in custody to January 31 after he was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
The court heard that Fissum had been studying in the Netherlands for five years and when he came to Zimbabwe he was having a difficult time coming to terms with life in Zimbabwe.
The State alleges that on January 15 at around 9am at their home in Mt Pleasant, Niyata started shouting at his parents for controlling his life.
Things allegedly came to a head when he took a kitchen knife and stabbed his father twice on the chest, once on the stomach and on the left hand and he died on the spot.
According to the state, when his mother came to restrain him from stabbing his father, Niyata allegedly stabbed her too 13 times on the back, thrice on the chest and once in the stomach.
Zerom is reportedly in a critical condition at Trauma Centre Hospital in Borrowdale.
Their maid, who was reportedly hiding as the offence was being committed, called the police, prompting Niyata’s arrest.
by
Shamaine Chirimujiri
STAFF WRITER