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Mashudu Mambo
A 55-YEAR-OLD man from Luveve suburb in Bulawayo will rue the day he attempted to rape his 14-year-old stepdaughter after he was slapped with an effective 10-year jail sentence.
The stepfather who cannot be named for ethical reasons appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza facing a charge of attempted rape. He pleaded not guilty but was convicted after trial and sentenced.
He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and five years of the sentence was suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. In mitigation, the culprit begged the court for leniency, stating that he wanted to take care of his two children who are juveniles.
“I am responsible for my two daughters and if l am in prison it means that no one will look after them because their mother is in South Africa and she has not returned home in five years,” he said.
The court heard that on 3 December 2023 at around 7pm, the victim was with her stepfather and her 10-year-old sister watching movies from a cellphone. At around 10pm, the victim’s sister retired to bed and left the victim and her father in the sitting room and that is when the perpetrator started caressing the juvenile.
The culprit fondled the juvenile and started touching her breasts and private parts. He went on to unzip his shorts and when the minor realised this, she stood up but he grabbed her hand.
The victim forcefully let herself free and went outside to report the matter to her neighbour.
The culprit begged her for forgiveness but she declined and narrated the whole ordeal to her neighbour. The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of the culprit.
Online Reporter