Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku
A 72-YEAR-OLD man appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate for allegedly sexually attacking a 13- year-old, resulting in her falling pregnant.
The elderly man cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor.
The alleged rapist appeared before regional magistrate Sibonginkosi Mnkandla and pleaded not guilty.
He was a self-actor.
In his defence he said: “On the day in question I called the minor to my home to help me answer a phone call and later I heard that I raped her. I was really shocked at the allegations. I never committed the crime.”
The man was remanded out of custody to 9 September for continuation of trial.
Allegations against him are that sometime in January, the complainant was summoned to the accused’s homestead to answer his wife’s phone call. It was heard in court that when the teenage girl arrived, the accused person dragged her to his bedroom hut where he allegedly placed her on the bed and allegedly raped her once.
The court heard— the elderly man threatened to stab her to death if ever she disclosed the ordeal to anyone.
The matter came to light last month after the minor started to feel unwell and was rushed to hospital for medical attention. A doctor examined her and discovered that she is pregnant. After that she was quizzed, leading her to reveal that she was raped by the elderly man. The matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused.
