CHINHOYI — A 55-year-old Nyabira man yesterday left the court dumbfounded after blaming demons for pushing him into raping his six-year-old stepdaughter before severely assaulting her.
By James Muonwa Own Correspondent
The abusive father from Nyabira was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment for rape and domestic violence when he appeared before regional magistrate Never Katiyo.
However, he will serve an effective 18 years in jail after the magistrate suspended four years on condition of good behaviour.
The man had initially denied the charge, but later altered his plea to that of guilty after his daughter who testified in camera gave a vivid account of how she was abused.
The court heard that on January 20 this year, the complainant’s mother accompanied her ailing sister for treatment to Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare and left her daughter under her husband’s care.
The State, led by Chipo Hungwe, proved that on February 7 this year at around 8am, the man called the girl into a hut where he sexually abused her.
Upon her mother’s return from Harare, the court heard, the complainant narrated her ordeal.
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On the day in question, after being confronted by the victim’s mother over the rape, the man took a leather belt and assaulted the minor inflicting serious injuries on her, including a fractured left arm. The matter was reported at Nyabira Police Station last week on Wednesday, leading to the man’s arrest.
In mitigation, he pleaded with the magistrate to hand down a lenient sentence, saying he committed the offence under the influence of demons.
“I don’t know what had gotten into me when I committed the crimes. I believe these are the works of demons which had possessed me. Please forgive me. Community service would suffice as I still have to look after my young family of which I am the breadwinner,” he pleaded.
However, Katiyo said community service would trivialise the matter, adding that rapists were undesirable elements in society and a threat to minors.
