A 35-YEAR-OLD Domboshava man was yesterday jailed for 20 years by Harare magistrate Noel Mupeiwa for raping his 10-year-old daughter on several occasions.
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
The convict, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor, will serve the whole term after magistrate Mupeiwa did not suspend any sentence saying the police erred by recording one count as facts pointed to several counts of rape.
In passing sentence, Mupeiwa said the convict committed a serious offence which is abhorred socially, religiously and legally despite his defence that she consented to having sexual intercourse.
“The court proves that you abused your child more than once and the police recorded only one count, it will be not fair for the court to suspend any sentence from the 20-year limit for a rape convict,” Mupeiwa said.
But the convict during mitigation asked the court to sentence him to community service saying that would enable him to look after his children.
“Your worship, during the Bible times Joseph was falsely charged with rape, but God intervened.
Even if you convicted me I know God will lead me out of custody,” the convict told the magistrate.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Mupeiwa, however, told him that the same Bible teaches him not to abuse children.
According to the State, the convict started raping the minor in 2012 after promising her Christmas clothes. The court also heard that sometime in 2014 but on an unknown date the convict raped the minor again.
The State further told court that the matter came to light after the complainant’s mother caught the convict raping the complainant and she proceeded to the police to make a report.
Timothy Makoni appeared for the State.
