Gumboot prints gives away rapist

Faith Mabuto Midlands Reporter
GUMBOOT prints at a crime scene gave away a man from Mvuma who allegedly sodomised and raped a 69-year-old woman. Francis Kapumhura, 33, appeared before regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire in Gweru facing one count of unlawful entry and two counts of rape. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to June 22 for continuation of trial.

Through his lawyer, Tongai Mutindi of Mupindu Legal Practitioners, Kapumhura denied knowing the complainant. “Your worship my client does not know this woman and he only saw her once. He also never went to the complainant’s homestead,” said Mutindi.

However, the woman told the court that she knew Kapumhura as she was once employed at his parents’ homestead where she did piece jobs.

“Your worship, I used to work at his homestead and I know him. On the day of the offence, he came to my house and when I asked him what he wanted, he jumped on me and pressed me to the ground,” said the complainant.

She said Kapumhura sodomised her before ordering her to turn over and face upwards.

The complainant said Kapumhura also ordered her to make sexual movements as he raped her.

Prosecuting, Prisca Kanhukamwe told the court that on February 7 at around 3AM, Kapumhura entered the complainant’s bedroom hut through an unlocked door.

“Kapumhura sneaked into the complainant’s blankets and held her by the neck and sodomised her,” said Kanhukamwe.

She said Kapumhura then told her to face upwards and raped her once before running away.

Kanhukamwe said the complainant told her neighbour about the rape and was told to cover the gumboot prints as evidence.

The police used the gumboot prints left outside the hut to track down and arrest Kapumhura.