A teenager appeared in court on allegations of strangling a three-year-old girl to death using a neck chain in Epworth two weeks ago.

To cover up for the offence and purport as if the death was due to an accident, it was reported that Talent Kuvimba went out of the house and left a burning candle on the bed where the body of the girl was.

Eventually, the candle reportedly burnt the whole house including the body of the toddler.

Kuvimba, 18, was not asked to plead when she appeared before Harare magistrate Tilda Mazhande charged with murder.

She was advised to apply for bail at the High Court and the matter was remanded to April 5.

The State alleges that on March 10, at around 10pm, at number 1702 A, Chinamano in Epworth, Kuvimba strangled to death a toddler using a neck chain.

To cover up for the offence and purport as if death was due to an accident, Kuvimba went out of the room and left a burning candle on the bed where the body of the toddler was.

The candle eventually burnt the whole house including the toddler’s body beyond recognition.

Kuvimba came back later from the shopping centre and she proceeded to the police station and reported that the toddler had been accidentally burnt in house.

The police officers proceeded to the accident scene and the body of the toddler was taken to Harare Central Hospital Mortuary.

On March 12, a forensic post mortem was done and it was concluded that the death was due to a deep injury on the neck.

It was also discovered that there was a neck chain that had sunk in the toddler’s neck.- state media