Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
A 29-YEAR-OLD Gwanda man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping his 48-year-old aunt after storming into her bedroom in the middle of the night.
The man, from Nyambi Village, who cannot be named to protect the victim’s identity, denied the charge but was convicted after a full trial before Gwanda regional magistrate Ms Sithembiso Ndebele.
In her ruling, Ms Ndebele said the State had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and condemned the accused’s actions as “an act of gross disrespect.”
“You went to the complainant’s homestead in the middle of the night and stormed her bedroom. This shows that you had the intent to cause harm and damage. What makes matters worse is that the complainant is your aunt,” she said.
Prosecuting, Ms Zanele Sithole told the court that on January 20, around midnight, the accused broke into the complainant’s house using an iron bar. He then demanded to sleep with her, threatening to kill her and her family if she resisted.
“Upon arrival at the complainant’s home, the accused person forcibly opened the door with an iron bar and demanded to sleep with his aunt amid threats to kill her and her family if she did not comply,” she said.
He raped her and fled the scene.
The complainant immediately sought help from a neighbour, who accompanied her to report the matter to police, leading to the accused’s arrest.
In court, the accused claimed he was too drunk to recall what happened that night. However, the complainant testified that he did not appear intoxicated when he forced his way into her home.
