Midima Court on Friday sentenced a 40 year old man to 14 years imprisonment for defiling his 11 year old stepdaughter.

According to Limbe Police Deputy Publicist Widson Nhlane, the suspect, Elson Chinangwa, committed the offence during the evening of May 28, 2018 at his home in Bvumbwe.

“This happened when the mother to the victim was still at her work place, so, he took this as an advantage by calling the girl into his bedroom where he demanded sex from her, but she refused.

“Later, the accused forced the victim down and defiled her. As he was in the process of doing that, the mother arrived and caught him red handed,” said Nhlane.

He added that the couple opted to keep the matter under wrap as one way of securing the marriage despite the girl having been severely injured.

“However, on August 28, the condition worsened and neighbours noticed that the 11- year old victim had walking difficulties and just crying.

“This prompted them to interview her and she revealed everything, and so the matter was reported to Bvumbwe Police,” said the police PRO.

According to the police, the accused pleaded guilty when he appeared in court and asked the presiding Senior Resident Magistrate Hussein Ibrahim to be lenient when passing judgment.

The accused said he was a bread winner and that his dependants would suffer when given a custodial sentence.

“However, State Prosecutor, George Kachapila, asked for a stiffer penalty for the accused as the victim was traumatized due to the act of the suspect and that she suffered a permanent disfigurement as chances of cervical cancer and fistula are high.

“He further argued that being a father, he was supposed to be the first to protect the victim and that giving him a stiffer penalty would deter other would-be defilers,” said Nhlane.

Concurring with the prosecutor, the Magistrate sentenced Chinangwa to serve a jail term of 14 years with hard labour, according to Nhlane.

Chinangwa hails from Samuti Village in Traditional Authority Chimaliro in Thyolo.