Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu,[email protected]
A 25-year-old man from Esigodini has appeared in court for raping a 45-year-old neighbour.
Samuel Nyoni from Thuthukani Village pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Gwanda regional magistrate, Ms Sithembiso Ndebele facing a rape charge.
He was remanded in custody to November 6 for trial.
Prosecuting, Ms Karen Gundani said Nyoni raped the complainant who cannot be named for ethical reasons on August 20 after he found her alone at her homestead.
“On 20 August at around 2PM the accused person passed through the complainant’s home looking for her husband as he wanted to borrow an axe,” she told the court.
“The complainant told the accused person that her husband was not around as he had travelled and she gave him the axe.
“On the same day at around 8PM the accused person went to the complainant’s homestead to return the axe. He knocked on the door and told the complainant to open as he wanted to give her back the axe.”
Ms Gundani said the complainant opened the door for Nyoni who requested to get into the house. The complainant refused to allow the accused person inside and insisted that he leave the axe and go.
Ms Gundani said Nyoni pushed the door and gained entry into the complainant’s bedroom hut. He proposed love to the complainant and requested to have sexual intercourse with her but she refused.
“The accused person threatened to attack the complainant with the axe if she made any noise. He grabbed the complainant and pushed her onto the bed and raped her.
“The accused person threatened to kill the complainant if he revealed the matter to anyone,” said Ms Gundani.
“The accused person then went on to lie on the bed on the bed and ordered the complainant to lie next to him as they were going to spend the night together.
“The accused person later fell asleep and the complainant took advantage and fled from the home and sought refuge at a nearby homestead.”
Ms Gundani said the accused person later woke up and realised that the complainant had fled and he proceeded to his home. The matter was reported to the police who conducted investigations leading to the arrest of the accused person.
In his defense the accused person denied having raped the complainant or visiting her homestead. He said the complainant had fabricated the allegations as they were not in good books. He said he would never visit the complainant’s home as they had bad relations.
-@DubeMatutu
