Jacinta Ndunge and her husband Isaac Gichura at Thika Law Courts where they were charged with the presence of 14 sewing needles in their baby's body on Tuesday. [The Star]
Parents of the Thika baby girl who had 14 sewing needles in her body have denied committing the crime.
Isaac Gichura and his wife Jacinta Ndunge appeared before Thika principal magistrate Grace Omodho on Tuesday where they denied charges of inserting needles into the body of 10-month old Irene Wairimu and putting her health at risk.
Gichura and Ndunge had asked the court to release them on bond so they could take care for their three children but the prosecution opposed the plea and filed for their detention for a longer period so investigations are completed.
"They will interfere with evidence if released since they are the minor’s parents," Dorothy Aswan the lead prosecutor said.
Gichura while pleading to be released said: “I swear before God that I came to learn that my child had needles in her body when doctors conducted an X-ray. There’s no way I can take part in harming my own child. I plead with this court to release me so I can feed my other kids."
Ndunge also pleaded for freedom saying the child needed breastfeeding.
“I’m aggrieved that people think I harmed my daughter. If I didn’t want her I wouldn’t have raised her to this point. Please release me so that I can go and breastfeed her," she said as quoted by the Star. However, their pleas were turned down as prosecution's application was granted and with the judge saying that they will remain in police custody until December 11 when the case will be mentioned.The baby has, in the meantime, been taken to Macheo Children’s Home as investigations on whether her parents abused her or were just negligent, continue.