Blantyre magistrate court has sentenced a 20-year-old man Dyson Nkhonde to nine years imprisonment for defiling a 3-year-old girl.

Senior Resident Magistrate, Peter Kandulu gave the sentence on Tuesday after Nkhonde pleaded guilty to the defilement charge contrary to Section 138 (1) of the Penal Code

Prosecutor Sub-Inspector, Victor Nachuma told the court that Nkhonde committed the offence on 16th July, 2015 in Chatha village in the district of Blantyre.

The court heard that on that momentous day, the accused- a neighbor to the victim- took advantage of the girl after her parents had left for their maize garden.
Nkhonde is said to have locked up the girl in his house and forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge.

“When the girl parents returned home were surprised to see their daughter coming out of the accused house whilst in pain and was failing to walk properly, and later the accused also emerged from the house Sub-Inspector’’, Nachuma told the court.

He added: “They asked her what had happened and she said in vernacul Nkhonde anandiyika nayo apa pointing at her private parts”

The parents decided to take up the matter with Chilobwe Police after noticing some sperms on the girl private parts.

Medical report from Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) confirmed that the girl was defiled.

Nkhonde, who hails from Belewu village, T/A Maseya in Chikwawa district, confessed during police interrogation to have committed the offence.

In his mitigation, Nkhonde pleaded forgiveness while blaming “the devil” for his conduct.

However, Senior Resident Magistrate, Peter Kandulu did not buy his plea and ordered Nkhonde to serve a nine-year jail term, saying he does not deserve any mercy for taking advantage of a vulnerable minor.