Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu [email protected]
A 23-YEAR-OLD Filabusi man has been sentenced to an effective 20 years in prison for teaming up with an accomplice, who is still at large, to rape a 22-year-old woman at gunpoint before robbing her and her husband of household property.
Phethani Khumalo was convicted of rape and robbery by Gwanda regional magistrate Mrs Sithembiso Ndebele.
He was sentenced to 15 years for rape and five years for robbery.
Prosecuting, Mr Ngonidzashe Shumba said on March 14 at around 3AM, Khumalo and his accomplice, armed with a pistol and an axe, raided a homestead at Sukhasimbe Co-operative in Filabusi.
The court heard that the pair forced their way into the couple’s bedroom while they were asleep and stole property worth US$263.
After ransacking the bedroom, the two men then dragged the woman outside at gunpoint, where they took turns raping her before fleeing the scene.
“The accused person and his accomplice, who is still at large, armed themselves with a pistol and an axe and proceeded to the complainant’s place of residence. Upon arrival, the duo forced open the bedroom door using an unknown object to gain entry and found the complainant and her husband sleeping,” said Mr Shumba.
The court heard that the accused and his accomplice threatened the couple with the weapons and demanded money.
Mr Shumba said the two men stole a 24-inch Samsung television, a Sunshine 30-watt solar panel, three 12-volt batteries, two shaving machines, a cellphone and US$43.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Khumalo’s arrest.
