adminThandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A PARTIALLY blind man was yesterday sentenced to 10 years in prison for sodomising his blind friend.
Jameson Guvamatanga, 26 from Masvingo pounced on his blind friend whom he was escorting daily and forced him to have anal sex before threatening him with death at Jairos Jiri Vocational Training Centre in Bulawayo last year.
Guvamatanga was convicted of aggravated indecent assault by regional magistrate, Mark Dzira.
He will, however, serve an effective seven years in prison after three years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Passing sentence, Dzira said Guvamatanga took advantage of his victim’s disability thereby breaching the trust that was between them.
He, however, said in coming up with the sentence, he had taken into account that Guvamatanga was partially blind.
“In coming up with your sentence, the court considered that you are a first offender who is blind so it has been lenient. You are therefore sentenced to 10 years in prison of which three years are suspended for five years on condition that you do not commit a sexual offence within the period.”
In mitigation, Guvamatanga told magistrate Dzira that he was single and his parents were taking care of him.
Guvamatanga had been out of custody since December 16 last year when his matter was taken to court.
Prosecuting Tinashe Dzipe said that on October 29 at around 8PM at Jairos Jiri Vocational Training Centre, Guvamatanga called his friend who was in his room for a walk around the premises.
They then sat down and started chatting before Guvamatanga pushed him down threatening to kill him if he screamed or resisted. He then had anal sex with the complainant without his consent.
Guvamatanga then ordered him to dress up and continued threatening to kill him if he dared report the assault.
He led the complainant back to his room.
Sometime in November, the complainant went to church and a pastor whose name was not disclosed in court led him to the toilet and noticed blood on his stool. The complainant then opened up about his assault and the pastor then helped him to make a police report leading to Guvamatanga’s arrest.
Online Reporter