Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
BEITBRIDGE regional magistrate, Mr Innocent Bepura, yesterday issued a warrant of arrest against a 51-year-old taxi driver who is accused of attempting to rape an Ordinary Level learner he was transporting to school.
It was the second time for the trial to have a false start after it failed to take off last week when the man’s lawyer, Mr Muchiwande Sithole of F Chauke and Associates excused himself after discovering that he was related to the complainant.
Edmore Zariro, who is facing charges for aggravated indecent assault had been remanded out of custody on US$200 pending trial at the Beitbridge Regional Court.
Mr Bepura had to issue a warrant of arrest yesterday after efforts to locate Zariro at the court were in vain.
Prosecuting, Mr Willbrought Muleya and Miss Tsitsi Mutukwa said the accused and the complainant were neighbours and the former had been contracted to take her to school daily.
The State said on July 30 at around 06:45 hours, Zariro was transporting the complainant along with other learners from the same neighbourhood to different schools.
He first dropped others at a local primary school and remained with the complainant who was seated in the front passenger seat.
While driving towards her school, he suddenly shoved her head between her legs and drove to a nearby bush.
The court heard that Zariro then locked the doors and started caressing the girl but she resisted.
During the process, he overpowered his victim and inserted his fingers in her genitals while trying to rape the teenager. He stopped his advance after realising that the girl was on her period. The State said the victim snatched the car keys from the ignition and vowed not to return them until he opened the doors.
Zariro gave in and opened the door and the complainant narrated the ordeal to her school mate who advised her mother and the matter was then reported to the police leading to the taxi driver’s arrest on the same day.
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