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Suspected rapist’s suicide bid foiled

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A SUSPECTED Chitungwiza rapist Tobias Matarirano allegedly attempted to commit suicide after he was caught in the act late last month.

A SUSPECTED Chitungwiza rapist Tobias Matarirano allegedly attempted to commit suicide after he was caught in the act late last month.

VIMBAI MARUFU OWN CORRESPONDENT

Matarirano (23) was later rushed to Chitungwiza Central Hospital before he was brought to court last week charged with drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl from his neighbourhood.

Chitungwiza magistrate Kudakwashe Jarabini heard that on December 24, Matarirano, who works as a security guard at a nightclub in Zengeza 4, proposed love to the complainant as she walked past his workplace in the company of her friend. The complainant, however, turned down his love proposals.

Three days later, Matarirano again approached the complainant after he allegedly spotted her at the shopping centre and offered her a drugged soft drink which she accepted and drank oblivious of the suspect’s motives.

She allegedly started feeling dizzy and could hardly stand.

Prosecutor Edmund Ndambakuwa told the court that Matarirano took advantage of her state and allegedly dragged her into the nightclub and raped her. The complainant’s sister later pursued the pair and allegedly caught Matarirano in the act.

She screamed for help drawing the attention of other shoppers who immediately rushed to the scene and apprehended the suspect.

Before he was taken to police, Matarirano allegedly gulped some paraffin in a bid to end his life, but the witnesses took him to the hospital before pressing rape charges against him.

The court remanded him in custody to January 20 for trial.