admin
Thandeka Moyo, Court Reporter
A 14-YEAR-OLD boy has been convicted of rape for the second time after violating his five-year-old niece.
In 2013, the boy, from Bulawayo’s Pumula North suburb, was dragged to court facing a rape charge.
He was warned and cautioned after conviction.
The unrepentant rapist – who is doing Form Two at a city school – pleaded guilty to one count of rape before regional magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze.
“The accused is a youthful offender who has a previous conviction of rape. He pleaded guilty to the offence and didn’t waste the court’s time. However, rape is a serious and prevalent crime. He deserves a sentence that will deter both him and like-minded would be offenders,” said Msipa-Marondedze.
“He’s therefore sentenced to receive three strokes with a rattan cane to be administered by a prison officer at Bulawayo Prison”.Magistrate Msipa-Marondedze also ordered the boy to undergo counselling once a week for a year.
Prosecuting, Concilia Ncube told the court that last year between August 1 and December 8 at a house in Pumula North, the boy raped his niece several times.
“The matter came to light on December 8 at around 4PM when the girl’s aunt arrived home and got into a bedroom where she found the girl putting on her panties. She noticed that the boy was standing by the bed,” said Ncube.
“She questioned the girl about what was happening and the girl told her aunt that her cousin had been raping her since August.
A police report was made and the toddler was taken to hospital for an examination. A medical report was produced.”
Online Reporter