Guardian reporter arrested for false decapitated story
Posted: Thursday, May 2, 2002

Owen Bowcott
The Guardian UK

The story that led to Meldrum's arrest was published last week. It reported claims in the Daily News that Brandina Tadyanemhandu, 53, a mother of eight, had been decapitated by supporters of the ruling party near Karoi, 120 miles north-west of Harare. The Times and the Independent carried the same story.

The account was partially based on the husband's report of the incident. Doubts have since been raised about his credibility. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said it might have been tricked into paying him compensation to cover burial expenses. Other government critics say the story might have been concocted to embarrass the press. The MDC and the Daily News are investigating. MORE 

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