adminEmily Mbewe Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO man who allegedly raped his neighbour’s 10-year-old daughter while her parents were away on Monday pleaded with a court to remand him out of custody so that he could bury his wife.
His wife’s body has been at a city mortuary since November last year.
Joshua Moyo, 47, allegedly raped the young girl on an unknown date sometime this year, magistrate Sibongile Msipa Marondedze heard at the Western Commonage Magistrate’s Court.
Moyo was arrested on June 8 after the girl told her cousin he had molested her.
It was not revealed in court why he had not buried his wife before being arrested, seven months after her death.
He begged the magistrate: “Can I be remanded out of custody because my wife is at a mortuary and her burial is being delayed. If l’m in custody nothing will be done. l’ve the burial order and everything that’s needed.”
Msipa-Marondedze told Moyo that the court would seek consent to grant him bail from the Attorney General.
“This court doesn’t have the power to grant you bail or remand you out of custody, the state will seek consent from the Attorney General and we’ll communicate with you,” said Msipa-Marondedze.
Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza said sometime this year on a date unknown to the prosecutor, the girl was playing outside with her friends when Moyo arrived and asked her where her relatives where.
“The girl told him that she didn’t know where they were, and when she wanted to go back to play with her friends, Moyo blocked her way before he covered the girl’s mouth and lifted her up,” said Mageza.
Mageza said Moyo took the girl inside her parents’ house and headed straight into the bedroom where he pulled off the girl’s skirt.
He said Moyo ordered the girl to bend and touch her toes before raping her once.
The court heard that Moyo threatened to kill the victim if she narrated the ordeal to anyone.
“Moyo left the girl crying in the living room and went to his place of residence,” said Mageza.
The court heard the victim’s sister noticed she was withdrawn and behaving strangely, prompting her to question her.
“The girl didn’t reveal the abuse. A cousin later examined her private parts leading to the girl revealing the matter and police were called,” said the prosecutor.
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