‘Devil sent rapist’ jailed for 12 years

Codelia Mondela, Court Reporter
A GOKWE man who told a court the devil drove him to rape a 17-year-old girl, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the offence.

Benny Siyakapiye (29) said he was powerless against evil spirits that caused him to commit the crime.

“It was the work of evil spirits or a spell that was upon me. My wife is six months pregnant and I have a young child,” he said.

Siyakapiye pleaded guilty to rape before magistrate Mr Trynos Utahwashe.

Mr Utahwashe sentenced him to 12 years in prison and suspended three years on condition that he does not commit a similar crime in five years. “You had no right to rape her because you have a wife and no amount of punishment given to you will bring back her original state,” he said.

Prosecuting, Mr Robin Mukura said Siyakapiye arrived at the victim’s homestead on July 31 at around 9AM and found her alone. He asked where her grandmother was and she told him she had gone to the grinding mill. “Siyakapiye proposed love, asked her to accept his phone as a gift and means of communication and $5 for buying braids but she refused,” he said.

“He asked for water to drink and followed her to the kitchen where he held her hands. He dragged her behind the door, threatened to kill her if she screamed and raped her once,” he said.

Siyakapiye pleaded with the court saying: “If I had gone to school I would have been better off. My mother is in a polygamous marriage that is why I am forced to leave home to fend for my family. I am very sorry for what I did.” — @MondelaC