Mom jailed for setting son on fire

2012-10-26 09:16

Western Cape High Court

Cape Town - A woman from Delft who killed her 9-year-old son for smoking, was sentenced to 11 years in prison by the Western Cape High Court, it was reported on Friday.

The woman, who drenched her son with paraffin and set him on fire, was found guilty of murder and attempted murder, The Times reported.

After finding her two sons with cigarettes last year, she poured paraffin over them. The eldest ran away but the youngest was torched. He died in hospital six weeks later.

According to the report, the woman was strict and highly protective of her children and their smoking had upset her.

She apparently suffered from depression, and had attempted to take her life twice before. The woman was ordered to undergo counselling in prison.

The eldest son is in foster care and the department of social services in the Western Cape has been ordered to provide him with counselling.

- SAPA