A 42-year-old man from Shurugwi murdered his three children in cold blood before committing suicide by drinking a poisonous substance.The now deceased murderer, Joakim Pound is alleged to have committed the heinous act following a domestic dispute over custody of the children after bringing another woman whom he was now staying with.

Pound is said to have lured his three unsuspecting children, Nyasha (8), Armotrel (12) and Diana (16) to a nearby mine shaft at Fern Creek golf course about two kilometres from Shurugwi town.

Pound’s uncle, Tinos Mungenge said his nephew is suspected to have poisoned his children with cyanide.

After committing the murder, Pound is said to have called his friend, Simeon Matare and gave him directions to where they would find the bodies of his children.

He later proceeded to his rural home in Mukandapi, Shurugwi where he committed suicide.

Five family members have now died in the space of a few days, two of them by suicide and three by murder and relatives are in shock.

Over the weekend, Brian Phiri, a family member committed suicide by drinking cyanide.

The wife of the late, Pound recovering at Shurugwi Hospital after collapsing at the crime scene.
Bodies of the Pound, Phiri, Nyasha, Armotrel and Diana are at Shurugwi mortuary.

The burials are expected on Thursday in Mukandapi after post-mortem results.
Source: zbc