News / Regional
Varsity student kidnaps, rapes girl, 3
30 Aug 2014 at 08:06hrs | Views
A MIDLANDS State University student allegedly kidnapped a three-year-old girl from her parents' house in Gweru's Senga suburb and later raped her, a court heard yesterday.
Prosper Muchineripi, 22, of House Number 339 Nehosho suburb in Gweru, appeared before regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire facing charges of kidnapping and rape.
He pleaded not guilty to both charges and was remanded out of custody on $100 bail to September 12 for continuation of trial.
Muchineripi was represented by Hillary Ndlovu of Chitere Chidawanyika and Partners Legal practitioners.
Prosecuting, Ndamukanei Chikuni told the court that on April 22 this year, Muchineripi was driving a Honda Stream vehicle in Senga suburb coming from town at around 11AM when he saw the little girl playing with her elder sister on the veranda of their parents' house.
She said the girls' parents were not at home.
Chikuni said Muchineripi beckoned the child to come to his car and opened the door for her to get on board.
The girl got inside and Muchineripi drove off with her, the court heard.
She said upon realising that her young sister had been kidnapped, the elder sister ran screaming to a neighbour's house.
The neighbour, Linda Zangura, then asked the child why she was crying and she told her that a stranger came and took her young sister in his car and drove away.
Chikuni said Zangura quickly rushed to Senga Police Station and reported the matter.
The court heard that at around 1PM of the same day, Muchineripi returned and dropped the child at her parents' house before driving off without speaking to anyone.
She said on the same day, the girl's parents immediately took the child to Gweru Provincial Hospital for a medical examination.
The medical report concluded that the child had been sexually abused.
Muchineripi's lawyer, Ndlovu, told the court that on the date in question, his client hit the girl with his car as she was attempting to cross the road.
Ndlovu said his client then asked members of the public who were present about the whereabouts of the child's parents but did not get a positive response.
He said Muchineripi then took the child to his car after he indicated to the people present that he was going to surrender the child to the police.
Ndlovu said as Muchineripi was approaching Senga Police Station, he suddenly realised that what he wanted to do might land him into trouble and made a U-turn.
He drove back to the girl's house looking for the child's parents, said Ndlovu.
He said Muchineripi asked one of the vendors about the child's parents and was directed to a certain house where he then dropped the child.
Ndlovu said his client was then surprised to see two police officers who were looking for him in connection with a missing child and they eventually arrested him.
Prosper Muchineripi, 22, of House Number 339 Nehosho suburb in Gweru, appeared before regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire facing charges of kidnapping and rape.
He pleaded not guilty to both charges and was remanded out of custody on $100 bail to September 12 for continuation of trial.
Muchineripi was represented by Hillary Ndlovu of Chitere Chidawanyika and Partners Legal practitioners.
Prosecuting, Ndamukanei Chikuni told the court that on April 22 this year, Muchineripi was driving a Honda Stream vehicle in Senga suburb coming from town at around 11AM when he saw the little girl playing with her elder sister on the veranda of their parents' house.
She said the girls' parents were not at home.
Chikuni said Muchineripi beckoned the child to come to his car and opened the door for her to get on board.
The girl got inside and Muchineripi drove off with her, the court heard.
She said upon realising that her young sister had been kidnapped, the elder sister ran screaming to a neighbour's house.
The neighbour, Linda Zangura, then asked the child why she was crying and she told her that a stranger came and took her young sister in his car and drove away.
Chikuni said Zangura quickly rushed to Senga Police Station and reported the matter.
She said on the same day, the girl's parents immediately took the child to Gweru Provincial Hospital for a medical examination.
The medical report concluded that the child had been sexually abused.
Muchineripi's lawyer, Ndlovu, told the court that on the date in question, his client hit the girl with his car as she was attempting to cross the road.
Ndlovu said his client then asked members of the public who were present about the whereabouts of the child's parents but did not get a positive response.
He said Muchineripi then took the child to his car after he indicated to the people present that he was going to surrender the child to the police.
Ndlovu said as Muchineripi was approaching Senga Police Station, he suddenly realised that what he wanted to do might land him into trouble and made a U-turn.
He drove back to the girl's house looking for the child's parents, said Ndlovu.
He said Muchineripi asked one of the vendors about the child's parents and was directed to a certain house where he then dropped the child.
Ndlovu said his client was then surprised to see two police officers who were looking for him in connection with a missing child and they eventually arrested him.
Source - chronicle
