Three years jail for raping minor

A 26-YEAR-OLD Mangwe man has been sentenced to three years in prison for raping a 13-year-old minor and threatening to kill her if she reports the abuse to anyone.

The man pleaded not guilty to rape charges but was convicted and sentenced to three years by Bulawayo magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza.

Eighteen months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition he will not commit a similar offence.

He will therefore serve an affective 18 months.

Presenting the State’s case, the prosecutor Mr Tinashe Dzipe told the court that on 25 March 2017 at about 1am, the girl was sleeping in the kitchen when the accused opened the door and slipped into her blankets.

He then stripped and went on to rape her twice. After that, he threatened to stab the girl with a knife if she revealed the matter to her mother. He then opened the door and left. At around 6am the girl told her father what happened.

Her father then reported the matter to a member of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee leading to the culprit’s arrest.

The complainant was referred to Plumtree District Hospital where a medical report was compiled.