Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, Court writer
A 38-YEAR-OLD man from Insuza who was caught raping a terminally ill neighbour who is 89 years old, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Khulekani Mlilo was convicted of rape by Bulawayo regional magistrate, Ms Sibonginkosi Mkandla.
The elderly woman died a few days after the rape.
Mlilo was caught redhanded by the complainant’s daughter who was in the company of her daughter.
In passing sentence, Ms Mkandla said Mlilo had betrayed the family trust as he had visited the homestead under the pretext of checking on the ailing woman.
“You abused the trust bestowed upon you. Your conduct was disgraceful, particularly considering that the victim was critically ill and completely defenceless,” said Ms Mkandla.
She said the traumatic ordeal was still haunting the witnesses.
“The witnesses told this court that the images of what they saw still haunt them. Upon being caught, you froze on the spot and shortly thereafter the victim went into shock and died,” said Ms Mkandla.
She said Mlilo’s conduct violated societal and cultural values.
“It is unacceptable and against our values to violate an elderly person, more so one who was critically ill,” she said.
Prosecuting, Ms Tsungai Mutapi told the court that on August 6 this year, Mlilo visited the deceased’s homestead claiming he had come to check on her welfare.
“The grandmother was terminally ill and could neither walk nor speak. The accused entered her bedroom, lowered his trousers and raped her,” said Ms Mutapi.
The court heard that a young child noticed the accused in the bedroom and ran to alert relatives who were seated outside.
One of the State witnesses testified that they rushed to the bedroom and found Mlilo in the act.
“We found him kneeling between the grandmother’s legs with his trousers lowered. When he saw us, he screamed and froze,” the witness told the court.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Mlilo’s arrest and subsequent prosecution.
Bongani Ndlovu