A 36-year-old man who accidentally shot and killed his seven-month-old baby is due in court on Tuesday.
The man will appear at the Nebo magistrate’s court on a charge of murder after the baby succumbed to a gunshot wound to the chest on Sunday.
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, spokesperson for police in Limpopo, said the man killed his child using a pellet rifle at their home in Maololo GaMashabela village.
The police responded to a complaint after the boy’s parents rushed him to a local clinic where he was certified dead on arrival.
“Both parents were interviewed and it was revealed that the child’s father was hunting for birds with a pellet rifle next to their home when the child was accidentally shot,” said Ledwaba, adding that an investigation is under way.
Ledwaba added that the police have confiscated the pellet rifle and placed the child’s father under arrest.
Acting provincial police commissioner Major-General Jan Scheepers condemned the incident. “The communities need to practise safety at all times when handling these types of weapons,” said Scheepers.
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