Zimbabwe's First Lady, Grace Mugabe, has denied assaulting South African model Gabriella Engels alongside an electrical cable inward a Johannesburg hotel suite final month, proverb an "intoxicated together with unhinged" Engels attacked her alongside a knife.
In a previously unreported Aug. 17 deposition seen yesteryear Reuters, Mugabe countered 20-year-old Engels' version, portraying herself every bit the victim afterwards intervening on behalf of her adult sons Chatunga together with Robert Junior who were "in problem alongside a drunken immature woman”.
The tilt said Grace Mugabe, 52 together with a contender to supersede her 93-year-old hubby every bit Zimbabwe's president, was thinking almost filing attempted murder charges.
According to Engels, an irate Mugabe outburst into the room where she was waiting alongside 2 friends to come across Chatunga Mugabe on Aug. thirteen together with started laying into her alongside an electrical cable.
Photographs taken yesteryear her woman raise shortly afterwards the incident showed a gash to Engels' brow together with head. She every bit good had bruising on her thighs.
In her deposition, Mugabe dismissed Engels' version every bit "malicious allegations" together with said she had been attacked afterwards going to assist her sons.
"She was worried almost them together with went to take in them at their hotel suite," the tilt said.
"Upon her arrival, Ms Engels, who was intoxicated together with unhinged, attacked doc Grace Mugabe alongside a knife afterwards she was asked to piece of occupation out the hotel.”
"Security was left alongside no other alternative simply to take away Ms Engels from the hotel suite," it continued.
The tilt every bit good alleged that Engels had been inward a combat alongside other women at Johannesburg's Taboo nightclub the previous flush together with suggested that may possess got been the effort of her injuries.
Afriforum, an Afrikaans civil fellowship grouping acting on behalf of Engels, denied both accusations.
"Gabriella never attacked Grace Mugabe inward whatever agency together with she did non participate inward the combat at Taboo," Afriforum said.
"It is clear that Grace Mugabe is desperately trying to escape responsibleness for her ain vehement conduct yesteryear using lies to falsely portray the victim inward this illustration every bit the perpetrator.”
South Africa granted Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity, allowing her to evade immediate prosecution for assault, although Engels together with Afriforum possess got challenged that decision, proverb Mugabe was non inward South Africa on official business.
They every bit good argued that onslaught was a "grave crime" that was non covered yesteryear diplomatic immunity laws.
The determination to allow Grace Mugabe provide abode caused a row inward South Africa, alongside the opposition Democratic Alliance every bit good going to courtroom to overturn the immunity.
Reuters