adminSenior Court Reporter
A 32-year-old Bulawayo man accused of molesting a nine-year-old girl shocked a court on Tuesday when he claimed the girl had a tendency of exposing her privates and breasts each time she visited his room. The two were neighbours in Hillcrest. “She always came to my room asking for different items and she would come wearing a mini skirt or lift her skirt and even raise her top,” July Chikepe told magistrate Crispen Mberewere as he denied indecent assault charges.
Prosecutors say Chikepe, a general hand at the United Bulawayo Hospitals, fondled the girl’s breasts and removed her panties as he caressed her privates.
He had removed his trousers exposing his erect manhood allegedly intending to have sexual intercourse with the girl on February 23, this year, when he was disturbed by noise from two neighbours.
“Hurry up and dress and go out, I will give you a $1 if you don’t tell your mother,” Chikepe allegedly told the girl as he dismissed her from his room.
Unfortunately, his landlady’s two daughters spotted the girl leaving his room and inquired from her what she was doing and she spilt the beans.
She said: “He grabbed me and dragged me to his bedroom where he removed my blouse and started fondling my breasts before pulling my skirt up and touching my privates.”
Asked why he didn’t chastise the girl or tell her parents about her habit, Chikepe said he feared they would beat her up, drawing laughter from the gallery.
In denying molesting the girl, Chikepe said he only pushed her out of his room by the chest as she was “talking too much and I didn’t want her to be seen in my room.”
This prompted the prosecutor Jeremiah Mutsindikwa to say that Chikepe had a secret love affair with the minor.
“So you were being secretive with a nine year old. Could this be the reason why you entertained the girl in your room because you are not married and you didn’t view her as a daughter but a wife to you. Why were you afraid of being seen with her? Were you hiding something?”
Chikepe told the court he never told anyone about the girl’s supposed misdemeanor although he would reprimand her.
It is alleged that on February 23 at about 1PM, the girl went to Chikepe’s room to ask for a box of matches intending to make a fire.
Chikepe allegedly made advances to her and started fondling her before unzipping his trousers. The girl’s father made a report to the police leading to Chikepe’s arrest.
The trial continues on Wednesday with the magistrate delivering judgment.
Chikepe is out of custody.
Online Reporter