Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, [email protected]
A BEITBRIDGE woman has been jailed for an effective four years for trying to protect her husband who had raped and impregnated her 16-year-old stepdaughter.
The offence came to light when the 47-year-old woman who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, tried to administer some medication to the girl to induce an abortion resulting in the victim falling ill.
The alleged rapist is in custody and is expected to appear in court on December 20 for trial. He is facing rape charges.
The woman was on Monday convicted on her own plea of guilty to unlawful termination of pregnancy by Beitbridge magistrate Ms Vavariro Gabi.
Prosecuting, Ms Olivia Chimutinya said on December 3 this year, the woman discovered that her 16-year-old stepdaughter was pregnant after she was allegedly raped by her father.
The court heard that the woman connived with her husband and they bought some medication to terminate the pregnancy.
“They then ordered the complainant to insert the tablets in her genitals to terminate the pregnancy and the girl complied. A few hours later, the complainant started experiencing abdominal pains,” said Ms Chimutinya.
The offence came to light when one of the complainant’s friends got information about the incident and took the girl to a local religious leader where she narrated her ordeal.
The matter was reported to the police leading to the couple’s arrest and recovery of the abortion tablets.
The victim was taken to Beitbridge District Hospital for medical attention where it was discovered the pregnancy had been terminated. — @tupeyo
Online Reporter