adminWynne Zanamwe Midlands Reporter
A 35-YEAR-OLD man from Kwekwe has been sentenced to 40 years in jail for raping his 15-year-old stepdaughter and threatening to kill her if she told anyone. Trymore Moyo pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape before Gokwe Regional Magistrate Mr Amos Mbobo. Mr Mbobo, however, sentenced him to 40 years in jail. Moyo will serve an effective 35 years after Mr Mbobo suspended five years of his sentence on condition of good behaviour.
The magistrate said Moyo was a monster for preying on his daughter whom he was supposed to protect. He said he deserved the maximum sentence because he had the audacity to threaten the minor after each shameful act.
The prosecutor, Mr Robert Ndlala, said Moyo and his stepdaughter were staying in the same house in Kwekwe. He said on an unknown date but during the month of June 2014, the girl’s mother left her with Moyo as she went to a church meeting in Gweru.
“The accused person told the complainant that he wanted them to go to a nearby bush to fetch firewood. The complainant packed some firewood into a sack. The accused took a stick and assaulted the complainant,” said Mr Ndlala.
“He told the complainant that she was not supposed to tell anyone what he was about to do to her. He sat on the complainant’s chest and threatened her with death if she ever told anyone before raping her once.” Mr Ndlala said using the same modus operandi, in March last year, Moyo told the complainant to go to the bush to collect herbs and firewood.
“After gathering firewood and digging up herbs, the accused approached the complainant and told her that he wanted to do to her what he had done the other day. He grabbed her, forced her onto the ground and raped her once,” he said.
Mr Ndlala said Moyo repeated the act in August last year and February this year. In February, the court heard, the girl’s mother went to Gweru for a church service. Moyo entered the complainant’s bedroom and raped her after he found her changing her clothes. The girl told no one about the incident.
“Police received a tip-off that the complainant was being abused by the accused person. Investigations were initiated and the complainant was taken to hospital for medical examination. The doctor compiled a report that showed that the complainant was being sexually abused leading to Moyo’s arrest,” said Mr Ndlala.
Online Reporter