A GUTU man took the Biblical phrase "my brother's keeper" to another level when he hacked his elder brother's wife to death for spurning his amorous advances. The man, 23-year-old Peter Chaminga of Farm 268, Nyazvidzi Communal Lands, is said to have accosted his sister-in-law asking her to be intimate with him since her husband had been away in South Africa for a lengthy period.

The sister-in-law, Raviro Sherekete, who was at home at Farm 267 with her 8-year-old son, spurned Chaminga's advances reminding him that they were related through her marriage to his elder blood brother.

This infuriated Chaminga who then allegedly grabbed an axe and charged Sherekete while scolding her for spurning his advances.

He allegedly struck Sherekete in the head five times with the axe until she collapsed in a pool of blood before locking himself in a kitchen hut while neighbours who had rushed to the scene took her to Murambinda District Hospital.

Her condition was deemed critical and she was transferred to Mutare General Hospital where she died the following day. Chaminga handed himself to the police in Gutu.

Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Peter Zhanero confirmed the incident yesterday, saying Chaminga was expected in court soon.

"We have arrested the suspect who killed his brother's wife after she had refused to give in to his demands for the two to be intimate.

"The suspect is in custody assisting us with investigations and he will appear in court soon facing murder charges," Insp Zhanero said.