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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A 17-year-old teenager from Masvingo was sentenced to an effective three years in jail when he was found guilty of sodomising two nine-year-old boys from the same neighbourhood. Gaylord Shadirwa of 16070 Calvin Majange Street, Runyararo pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated indecent assault when he appeared before Masvingo regional magistrate Mrs Esther Muremba on Thursday. However,Shadirwa was convicted due to overwhelming evidence.
He was sentenced to a total of six years for both counts of which three years were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
For the State, Ms Sophia Busvumani said sometime in June 2012 at about 1pm the first complainant was playing with other children at Shadirwa’s house.
The court heard that Shadirwa called his victim into his bedroom where he ordered him to pull his pair of trousers to knee level. He then ordered the boy to lie on the bed with his stomach facing downwards and went on to sodomise him. In the middle of performing the act, the boy’s friend opened the door and found Shadirwa sodomising his friend. He went to report the matter to his sister who later told the boy’s mother.
The mother asked the complainant what had happened and the boy narrated his ordeal.
The boy also told her that Shadirwa had done the same thing to his playmate from the same neighbourhood.
On the second count sometime in July during the same year, Sadirwa called the boy who was playing with his friends. He invited him to his bedroom where he indecently assaulted him.
The matter came to light when the boy also told her sister what Shadirwa had done to him.
On 19 September, the mother reported the matter to the police leading to Shadirwa’s arrest.
The two boys were taken to Masvingo General Hospital for medical examination where it was proved that they were indecently assaulted. Two medical reports were produced in court as exhibits.
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derick.khumalo