Brothers rape, impregnate sister

TWO brothers allegedly took turns to sexually abuse their mentally challenged biological sister until she fell pregnant.

Paternity tests will now determine who between the brothers aged 15 and 36 is responsible for the pregnancy of their 34-year-old sister.

According to a report made to the police, the two shameless brothers allegedly raped their sister on separate incidents in April and May this year at their parents' homestead in Breakfast Village 1, Matetsi area under Chief Shana.

The two brothers allegedly sneaked into their sister's bedroom hut on unknown dates in April and May at night where they allegedly raped her.

The siblings are now facing rape charges.

They appeared separately before Victoria Falls magistrate Sharon Rosemani yesterday and were not asked to plead.

The magistrate remanded the younger one in custody to September 23 but ordered that he be held in a separate cell away from other prisoners because of his age as he is a juvenile while the older brother will return to court on September 28.

Allegations were that sometime in April the 15-year-old got up from his blankets and proceeded to his sister's bedroom hut where he forced himself into her blankets.

"The accused got into the complainant's blankets and ordered her to remove her panties before raping her," said prosecutors.

In respect of the elder brother, it is alleged that he arrived home intoxicated in May and slept in his bedroom hut.

At night, it is said, he allegedly woke up, left his wife sleeping and proceeded to his sister's room where he raped her before falling asleep in her blankets.

At one point, the younger brother was found in his sister's blankets but the family swept the issue under the carpet.

The matter only came to light when the elder brother's wife found him sleeping in the victim's blankets and he could not explain his presence.

A report was made to the police leading to the two brothers' arrest on Monday.

Their sister is said to be about four months pregnant.

The brothers claimed in court that police assaulted them and forced them to admit to the crime.