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Lovemore Meya Court Correspondent
A 21-year-old Chitungwiza man was yesterday jailed for 13 years in prison for raping his ailing stepsister (15) after threatening to stab and kill her with a screwdriver. The man denied rape charges when he appeared before Chitungwiza regional magistrate Ms Estere Chivasa. However, he was convicted after prosecutor Mr Tendai Mukariri produced overwhelming evidence against him.
Ms Chivasa sentenced him to 15 years in prison, but conditionally set aside two years for five years. In handing down the sentence, Ms Chivasa took into account that the man breached the trust bestowed upon him and that rape was a serious offence.
The court heard that the man sneaked into the girl’s room on November 28 where she was sleeping. The girl was not feeling well and decided to take a nap, while her sister had gone away leaving her with her child.
She was also with her younger sister at the house together with the accused. The girl called her younger sister to take the child out to play because it was disturbing her. She fell asleep and only woke after realising that there was someone on top of her.
The court heard that the minor saw her brother half naked and asked him what he was doing.
Instead, the man drew a screwdriver and a needle, and threatened to kill her if she screamed.
He raped the girl and went to take a bath after committing the offence.
On the following day, the girl narrated her ordeal to her eldest sister and the matter was reported to the police leading to his arrest.
Online Reporter