For r@ping and impregnating his 13-year-old step-sister, a 26-year-old man from Gweru’s Plot 2 Hillside was given a four-year prison sentence. The girl, who reportedly was in sixth grade, left school and has since given birth.
The accused, who will remain anonymous to safeguard the identity of the minor, was found guilty on his own guilty plea when he appeared before Gweru Provincial Magistrate Ms. Beaulity Dube recently on one count of r@pe.
He offered the defense that he had a s3xual contact with his step-sister prior to her becoming pregnant.Â
According to Ms. Dube, though Chronicle, the offender will serve three years with effect after she suspended one year of his sentence, if he behaves well.
The accused began having intercourse with his 13-year-old step-sister behind their parents’ backs sometime last year, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Brandon Ndlovu, who told the court that she became pregnant and gave birth.
According to Mr. Ndlovu, the accused’s father did not want his son, whom he brought into the marriage, to face legal action, thus the family did not want to disclose the incident when it became public. The accused’s father told the court that if the issue was reported, he would leave the marriage to the complainant’s mother.
After a public outcry, he added, “the woman, who wanted to save her marriage, agreed not to report the matter and also attempted to withdraw the case when the police finally heard the issue.”
According to Mr. Ndlovu, if the family did not submit the matter to the police, the public would report it. He informed the court that as this was a serious offense, the accused should be sent in jail.
Mr. Ndlovu stated that the accused had exposed the kid to HIV and other s3xually transmitted !llnesses, and that “it should be a lesson to the community that such offences will result in incarceration and imprisonment.”
She should have been playing with other children at the age of 13, but now she is a mother. It was your responsibility.
