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Trish Mukwazo, [email protected]
A 51-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man was convicted on Monday of repeatedly raping and impregnating his tenant’s 15-year-old granddaughter. He is set to be sentenced on Tuesday.
The accused, who had pleaded not guilty, was convicted by Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr. Matthew Mutiro due to overwhelming evidence. In his ruling, Mr. Mutiro stated that the State had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“The victim confirmed the accused’s responsibility for her pregnancy. The prosecution has proved beyond doubt that the accused committed this offense, and he is accordingly found guilty,” said Mr Mutiro.
He noted that the victim’s silence stemmed from fear and reliance on the accused. “The complainant couldn’t disclose the matter because she and her family depended on the accused for support,” said Mr Mutiro.
The prosecutor, Mr Jethro Mada, told the court that the abuse began in 2018 when the accused lured the victim to his cottage under false pretences.
“The accused summoned the complainant, who was alone in the main house, to his cottage, ordered her into his bedroom, and raped her,” he said.
The court heard that the accused then threatened to harm the complainant if she dared to tell anyone about the rape. The abuse continued for several years until the complainant fell pregnant.
The matter came to light on 10 December last year when the victim’s mother heard rumours of her daughter’s pregnancy. She took the girl to an elderly woman from their church, who questioned her. The teenager revealed that the accused was responsible for her pregnancy.
The case was reported to the police, leading to the accused’s arrest. The complainant was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), where a pregnancy test confirmed she was 25 weeks pregnant.
Synonyms for “raped”sexually assaultedviolatedabusedinfringing onbeing violatedravishedmolestedviolativebeing breachedfailed to comply
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