Online Reporter
Getrude Manyande [email protected]
A 38-year-old man from Nyamandlovu in Umguza District has appeared in court facing two counts of allegedly raping his nine-year-old niece on separate occasions.
The accused, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the complainant, appeared before Tredgold Regional Magistrate Mr Mark Dzira facing two counts of rape.
He pleaded not guilty to both counts and was remanded in custody to August 7 for continuation of trial.
Prosecuting, Ms Rumbidzai Gwishiri told the court that on July 25 at about 12 noon, the complainant, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, was at her home.
The accused allegedly called the complainant to his workplace before ordering her into his bedroom.
“He pushed the complainant onto the bed and unlawfully had sexual intercourse with her without her consent,” alleged Ms Gwishiri.
The court heard that after the incident, the accused allegedly threatened to assault the complainant if she disclosed what had happened to anyone.
It is alleged that on August 1, at about 6am, the complainant’s grandmother left for work, leaving her at home.
At around 9am, the grandmother allegedly received a phone call from the complainant’s mother, who said she had seen the accused sitting on the complainant’s blankets.
The grandmother immediately returned home and discovered that both the complainant and the accused were missing. She allegedly followed footprints leading to the accused’s workplace.
While tracing the footprints, she allegedly heard the complainant screaming from the accused’s bedroom and rushed inside.
“Upon entering the bedroom, she found the accused sitting on the bed while the complainant was standing at the edge of the bed,” Ms Gwishiri told the court.
The complainant allegedly disclosed that the accused had sexually assaulted her without her consent that day and had also raped her on July 25.
The matter was reported to the police in Nyamandlovu, and the complainant was referred to hospital for medical examination.
