In court, state prosecutor Sub Inspector Ted Namaona, said the woman who married the boy's father four years ago, found the husband's with him.

Namaona said the husband works in Chiradzulu and only visits his family every fortnight.

However, Namaona said in his recent visit on February 16, 2024, the husband found his son in agony with a swollen face, black eyes, and bruises on both hands.

"Upon questioning, the victim revealed that his stepmother had been mistreating him whenever the father was away and that on previous day, he was assaulted and pushed against a wall for urinating inside the house," Namaona told the court.

The incident was reported to the police, and the boy was issued a referral letter to Mangochi District Hospital, according to Namaona.

Martha pleaded guilty to the charge of acts intended to cause grievous harm and requested leniency, citing her own 3-year-old child would suffer if she were imprisoned in court.

But, in his submission, Prosecutor Namaona argued, Martha's behavior endangered an innocent child's life and pleaded for a custodial sentence.

Senior Resident Magistrate Muhammad Chande concurred with the state and sentenced her to three years imprisonment with hard labor.

She hails from Mtalika village, Sub Traditional Authority Chiponde in the same district.