A 16-year-old Zimbabwean boy appeared in court on a charge of bestiality last week, for allegedly having sex with a neighbour’s cow.

The teenager, who lives in Dendera village outside Beit Bridge, appeared before a local magistrate, Mr Robson Finsin, to answer to the charge. He denied the allegations, however.

The court heard that on 20 February, the teenager allegedly went to a neighbour’s cattle pen with salted grain. He fed one of the cows, after which he allegedly committed the crime. The neighbour caught him in the act when he visited the pen to take the animals for grazing.

The matter was reported to the police, leading to the teenager’s arrest.