An 18-year-old South African teenager has been arrested for allegedly beating his five-month-old son to death in Limpopo Province, police confirmed on Tuesday.
Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the suspect was captured late Monday night after an intensive manhunt.
According to reports, the teen had assaulted his 19-year-old girlfriend and their baby during a domestic dispute. The young mother escaped to the Malamulele Police Station to report the incident, telling officers that her boyfriend had also been abusing their child.
Police accompanied her back home, where they discovered the lifeless body of the infant lying on the floor. Medical personnel confirmed the baby’s death at the scene, with visible head and facial injuries suggesting he had been severely beaten.
The suspect fled before police arrived but was tracked down and arrested around 10 p.m. the same day.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing, and the teenager is expected to appear in court soon on charges of murder and domestic violence.
