News / National
Wife collapses as hubby gets 11-year-jail-sentence for raping niece
27 May 2012 at 20:55hrs | Views
A wife and sister of a man sentenced to an effective 12 years for rape screamed and fainted at the Bindura Regional Courts on Wednesday when the sentence was announced. The 22-year-old man was convicted of two counts of raping his 11-year-old niece.
After Bindura regional magistrate Mr William Bhila announced the sentence, the two women burst into screams as soon as they went out of the courtroom.
The wife, said to have given birth two weeks ago, staggered as she approached the court exit point.
But she could not proceed further as she crashed against the door before falling unconscious.
Moments later, the man's sister who was staying with the raped girl as her step mother also failed to control her emotions.
She suddenly screamed and fell unconscious.
Business at the court briefly came to a halt as scores of people rushed to witness the event.
Commotion then ensued with passersby and employees from neighbouring premises thronging the courtyard to have a glimpse of the women, while others peeped over the fence.
This forced police and prison officers stationed at the court to intervene and disperse the swelling crowds.
The man denied the two counts of rape when he appeared before Magistrate Bhila, but was convicted owing to overwhelming evidence.
Mr Bhila suspended six years on condition that he does not commit an offence of a sexual nature in the next five years.
Prosecutor Mr Munyaradzi Mataranyika proved that the man first raped the girl in 2007 when she was just seven years old while she was staying with him.
The second count occurred on 11 December last year when the uncle found the girl playing in the company of other children.
He sent the other children to buy vegetables while he remained with the girl and raped her.
The matter came to light in February this year when the girl, who was now staying with a different relative, overhead her relatives discussing the man's marriage.
She revealed the sexual assaults.
The relatives reported the matter to the police leading to the man's arrest.
After Bindura regional magistrate Mr William Bhila announced the sentence, the two women burst into screams as soon as they went out of the courtroom.
The wife, said to have given birth two weeks ago, staggered as she approached the court exit point.
But she could not proceed further as she crashed against the door before falling unconscious.
Moments later, the man's sister who was staying with the raped girl as her step mother also failed to control her emotions.
She suddenly screamed and fell unconscious.
Business at the court briefly came to a halt as scores of people rushed to witness the event.
Commotion then ensued with passersby and employees from neighbouring premises thronging the courtyard to have a glimpse of the women, while others peeped over the fence.
This forced police and prison officers stationed at the court to intervene and disperse the swelling crowds.
The man denied the two counts of rape when he appeared before Magistrate Bhila, but was convicted owing to overwhelming evidence.
Mr Bhila suspended six years on condition that he does not commit an offence of a sexual nature in the next five years.
Prosecutor Mr Munyaradzi Mataranyika proved that the man first raped the girl in 2007 when she was just seven years old while she was staying with him.
The second count occurred on 11 December last year when the uncle found the girl playing in the company of other children.
He sent the other children to buy vegetables while he remained with the girl and raped her.
The matter came to light in February this year when the girl, who was now staying with a different relative, overhead her relatives discussing the man's marriage.
She revealed the sexual assaults.
The relatives reported the matter to the police leading to the man's arrest.
Source - TH
