admin
Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
A 30-year-old man was yesterday jailed for eight years for raping his 14-year-old niece. The man shocked the gallery when he said he raped the girl because she liked him too much. He claimed that he did not know it was an offence to sleep with his niece. He said: “She liked me too much and would follow me around even when I go to sleep. Her aunt would be away most of the time and I thought I was playing with her.
“I had no idea it was an offence and I committed it out of ignorance.” In passing sentence Harare magistrate, Ms Fadzayi Mtombeni, said the man took advantage of the girl. “She told you that she doesn’t like you fondling her breast so you knew she was not consenting. You abused the trust of your wife when she entrusted you with the girl,”
Ms Mtombeni sentenced the man to 12 years in prison, but suspended four. The prosecutor Ms Ressy Nyamombe, proved that on November 8 this year, the man’s wife left home, leaving the 14-year-old and two other children. A few hours later the man returned home from work and found the 14-year-old preparing super.
He entered his bedroom and after the girl was finished preparing food, she followed him into the bedroom. She asked to be assisted doing her homework. After doing the homework, the girl prepared to leave but the man grabbed her and pressed her down on the bed.
He raped her once and was interrupted by someone who was calling the girl. The man quickly answered and told the person to check for the girl somewhere else. He threatened to use witchcraft to cause her death if she revealed the matter to anyone before ordering her to dress quickly and leave the room.
After the offence the man stopped sleeping on the matrimonial bed. He indicated that he wanted to divorce his wife and stay with the 14-year-old instead. People became suspicious and interviewed the girl who revealed the assault.
Online Reporter