News / National
20 years for raping niece at knifepoint
12 Jul 2012 at 18:41hrs | Views
A HARARE man was on Tuesday jailed for 20 years for raping his 10 year-old niece at knifepoint.
Regional magistrate Ms Esthere Chivasa did not suspend any portion of the lengthy custodial term she imposed on the 47-year-old man to send a strong warning to would be offenders targeting minor children.
He had pleaded not guilty to rape charges but the court convicted him after the prosecution proved a prima facie case against him.
In passing sentence, Ms Chivasa considered that the accused was a first time offender. She however, noted that the attack on the minor was brutal and exposed her to the risk of HIV and Aids.
Prosecutor Ms Tinashe Kanyemba proved that on March 17 this year, the girl went to the accused's house where she was sent to collect the housemaid. Upon arrival she sat in the sitting room together with the man's two children one of whom left the room to do house chores while the other one took a bath. The girl was left with her cousin's baby so she could put her to sleep.
She left the dinning room and went into the bedroom to lay the baby and when she returned she was shocked to find the accused with his trouser's zip open. He ordered her to lie on the sofa while holding a knife and instructed her to keep quiet. He removed the girl's clothes and raped her. She reported the narrated her ordeal to her mother the following day who in turn made a police report.
Regional magistrate Ms Esthere Chivasa did not suspend any portion of the lengthy custodial term she imposed on the 47-year-old man to send a strong warning to would be offenders targeting minor children.
He had pleaded not guilty to rape charges but the court convicted him after the prosecution proved a prima facie case against him.
In passing sentence, Ms Chivasa considered that the accused was a first time offender. She however, noted that the attack on the minor was brutal and exposed her to the risk of HIV and Aids.
Prosecutor Ms Tinashe Kanyemba proved that on March 17 this year, the girl went to the accused's house where she was sent to collect the housemaid. Upon arrival she sat in the sitting room together with the man's two children one of whom left the room to do house chores while the other one took a bath. The girl was left with her cousin's baby so she could put her to sleep.
She left the dinning room and went into the bedroom to lay the baby and when she returned she was shocked to find the accused with his trouser's zip open. He ordered her to lie on the sofa while holding a knife and instructed her to keep quiet. He removed the girl's clothes and raped her. She reported the narrated her ordeal to her mother the following day who in turn made a police report.
Source - TH
