Louden Chagona, 50, of Snaefell Avenue in Tuebrook, has admitted attempting to murder his wife, Abigail Chinorwadza, after striking her over the head with a saucepan and throwing boiling water at her. The attack left Ms Chinorwadza fighting for her life with serious head injuries.
Chagona had previously denied the charge and was due to stand trial next month. However, during a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon, his counsel John Rowan asked for him to be rearraigned. Chagona, who wore a navy blue fleece in the dock and was assisted by an interpreter, then changed his plea to guilty.
Sentencing set for November
He will now be sentenced on Friday, November 13, and was further remanded into custody until that date. Adjourning the case, Judge Stuart Driver KC told him: "You will appear via video on the 13th of November, when you will be sentenced. As you know, this is a very serious case and there will be a very substantial sentence. You are remanded in custody. Go with the officer please."
Chagona nodded slightly as he was led to the cells. Judge Driver then told Mr Rowan at the conclusion of the hearing: "Life imprisonment and extended sentences will have to be considered."
Victim struck eight times with pan
It is understood that Ms Chinorwadza was struck eight times over the head with a saucepan during the assault before having boiling water poured over her while she was lying injured on the ground, leaving her with burns to her arm. Photographs of the pan captured at the scene, seen by the ECHO, showed the utensil bloodstained and bent out of shape as a result of the force of the attack, with pools of blood having also been left around the kitchen.
Chagona, who apparently flew into a rage after having a tuna sandwich thrown at him, is believed to have arrived in the United Kingdom from Zimbabwe with their young daughter only three weeks before the attack in order to live with his partner. She had previously been resident in this country for a number of years.
Police response and neighbour account
The ECHO previously reported that Merseyside Police were called to the scene shortly before 7.30am on Sunday, May 17, following reports of a woman being assaulted. Paramedics attended and found that she had sustained serious head injuries. Having been rushed to hospital, her condition was initially said to be critical but stable. But the court previously heard that she was later discharged as an inpatient.
Neighbours told the ECHO that they were shocked by the events unfolding in what they described as a "quiet" road, where a white tent was seen erected outside a house as forensics officers conducted investigations. One resident said: "I was out at the time and I came home to police outside. When I walked past, there was blood on the wall behind the front door.
"But it's really sad, the poor woman. Hopefully she'll be okay. You see police in the area, like on Windsor Road, but nothing down here in the whole time I've lived here. This is a quiet road. It's quite nice." Another neighbour meanwhile added: "A neighbour said it had been going on since around 4am, there was loads of banging and shouting. The neighbour started hammering on the door at about 7am."
