News / National
Kereke jailed effective 10 years for rape
11 Jul 2016 at 20:10hrs | Views
Bikita West legislator, Munyaradzi Kereke has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, four of which were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Kereke will serve an effective 10 years after being convicted of rape charges after a full trial.
Magistrate, Noel Mupeiwa however acquitted him of lesser charges of sexual assault.
The magistrate took about three hours handing over his judgment, addressing issues raised one by one.
What was of significance is how he outlined arguments of the defence, articulating areas which bring conclusion that Kereke lied in his defence.
The court established that Kereke cooked up his defence and told his witnesses what to say in court.
Mupeiwa queried how all the defence witnesses ended up at one Commissioner of Oaths to get their statements authenticated.
During trial, the witnesses said it was by coincidence, a development that exposed the defence counsel.
Mupeiwa said what is critical is to establish if a rape case was committed and by who.
The court established that Kereke raped the minor who was at the age of 11 in 2010.
Mupeiwa said there is evidence to show that Kereke threatened the complainant with a gun, arguing that he tried to backdate the return of the gun in order to conceal evidence.
The magistrate took his time to take a swipe at Kereke who in his defence argued that the complainant was promiscuous and could have had sex with other men.
Mupeiwa said it was the duty of Kereke to take precautionary measures if he knew that the young girl was promiscuous and protect the girl rather than emerge as a predator.
The court said the mention of former RBZ Governor, Gideon Gono and other people in this case was a desperate way to get away with the crime.
However the magistrate found that the witnesses maintained consistence in their narration of the story hence their evidence being credible.
On the charge of sexually assaulting the 15-year-old sister of his rape victim, the magistrate dismissed the evidence by the complainant whom she said only reported after the 11-year-old minor reported her case.
Meanwhile, the guardian of the complainants, Francis Maramwidze and the lawyer, Charles Warara said they are happy that justice has prevailed after almost six years.
Kereke will serve an effective 10 years after being convicted of rape charges after a full trial.
Magistrate, Noel Mupeiwa however acquitted him of lesser charges of sexual assault.
The magistrate took about three hours handing over his judgment, addressing issues raised one by one.
What was of significance is how he outlined arguments of the defence, articulating areas which bring conclusion that Kereke lied in his defence.
The court established that Kereke cooked up his defence and told his witnesses what to say in court.
Mupeiwa queried how all the defence witnesses ended up at one Commissioner of Oaths to get their statements authenticated.
During trial, the witnesses said it was by coincidence, a development that exposed the defence counsel.
The court established that Kereke raped the minor who was at the age of 11 in 2010.
Mupeiwa said there is evidence to show that Kereke threatened the complainant with a gun, arguing that he tried to backdate the return of the gun in order to conceal evidence.
The magistrate took his time to take a swipe at Kereke who in his defence argued that the complainant was promiscuous and could have had sex with other men.
Mupeiwa said it was the duty of Kereke to take precautionary measures if he knew that the young girl was promiscuous and protect the girl rather than emerge as a predator.
The court said the mention of former RBZ Governor, Gideon Gono and other people in this case was a desperate way to get away with the crime.
However the magistrate found that the witnesses maintained consistence in their narration of the story hence their evidence being credible.
On the charge of sexually assaulting the 15-year-old sister of his rape victim, the magistrate dismissed the evidence by the complainant whom she said only reported after the 11-year-old minor reported her case.
Meanwhile, the guardian of the complainants, Francis Maramwidze and the lawyer, Charles Warara said they are happy that justice has prevailed after almost six years.
Source - zbc
