News / National
Court overturns robbers-cum-rapists' lenient sentence
12 Jun 2024 at 01:49hrs | Views
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe has successfully appealed against a lenient sentence given to two armed robbers who also committed rape. Wallace Kufandada and Takudzwa Pepukai were ordered by High Court judges of appeal Justices Munamato Mutevedzi and Esther Muremba to receive life sentences for their heinous crimes.
The two convicts gang-raped a woman in Harare in front of her minor children. Initially, they were each sentenced to six years in prison for robbery, with four years suspended. Kufandada was further sentenced to 20 years for rape, but the sentences were set to run concurrently, resulting in only 16 years of imprisonment.
The judges deemed this sentence shockingly lenient, especially considering the severity of the crimes committed. They questioned the deviation from the presumptive penalty of 20 years for robbery committed under aggravating circumstances. Additionally, they criticized the consideration given to the youthfulness of the offenders, stating that a deterrent sentence was necessary given the high crime rate in the country.
The court recounted the horrifying details of the incident, where the convicts assaulted the victims and threatened them with death before raping the woman. Despite Pepukai being acquitted of rape, both were convicted of robbery. The assailants were arrested after attempting to flee the scene, while their accomplice managed to escape.
The two convicts gang-raped a woman in Harare in front of her minor children. Initially, they were each sentenced to six years in prison for robbery, with four years suspended. Kufandada was further sentenced to 20 years for rape, but the sentences were set to run concurrently, resulting in only 16 years of imprisonment.
The judges deemed this sentence shockingly lenient, especially considering the severity of the crimes committed. They questioned the deviation from the presumptive penalty of 20 years for robbery committed under aggravating circumstances. Additionally, they criticized the consideration given to the youthfulness of the offenders, stating that a deterrent sentence was necessary given the high crime rate in the country.
The court recounted the horrifying details of the incident, where the convicts assaulted the victims and threatened them with death before raping the woman. Despite Pepukai being acquitted of rape, both were convicted of robbery. The assailants were arrested after attempting to flee the scene, while their accomplice managed to escape.
Source - newsday
