Danisa Masuku Court Reporter
A 53-YEAR-OLD man from Insuza in Umguza District has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping his 10-year-old granddaughter on two occasions.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the victim’s identity, was convicted on his own plea of guilty to two counts of rape by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mrs Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze.
He was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment on each count, with the sentences running concurrently, effectively leaving him with a 15-year jail term.
In passing sentence, Mrs Msipa-Marondedze said the accused had betrayed the trust placed in him by his granddaughter, who was in his care when the offences were committed.
“On both occasions, the accused sexually abused his granddaughter, who was in his care at the time.
The matter came to light after the girl reported what had happened, leading to a police report and
her being taken for medical examination,” she said.
The prosecutor, Ms Karen Gundani urged the court to impose a lengthy custodial sentence, arguing that the victim’s tender age, the accused’s position of trust and the repeated nature of the offences were aggravating circumstances.
She said the accused had abused the responsibility entrusted to him as a grandfather and caregiver.
“The offender was in a position of trust and care over his granddaughter and he abused that trust.
The offences were not a single lapse, but were repeated on two separate occasions, showing persistence,” submitted Ms Gundani.
She said the offences had caused trauma to the child and that a substantial prison sentence was necessary to punish the offender and deter others from committing similar crimes.
“The girl had suffered trauma and a lengthy custodial sentence was needed to deter the offender and other would-be offenders,” said Ms Gundani.
The court heard that the first offence occurred on September 9 when the accused and the child were sleeping in the same room.
The accused was sleeping in his bed while the girl was on the floor with her siblings when he woke up and raped her.
He committed the second offence on October 29. The matter came to light after the girl reported what had happened, leading to a police report and the man’s subsequent arrest.
