Mchinji First Grade Magistrate Court on Monday sentenced a 30-year-old man to five years and six years IHL for robbing and defiling respectively a 13-year-old girl in the district.

It was heard in court that on February 10, 2020, three girls were sent to deliver food items to their grandmother who was staying at Ndawambe Village in the district.

The court further heard that on the day, the three girls met the suspect, Joseph Phiri who was herding cattle.

The accused then started chasing the girls and managed to catch one of them whom he dragged into a nearby forest and defiled her. He also robbed her of money amounting to K20, 000.

In mitigation, the suspect, who pleaded guilty to the charges leveled against him, asked the court to be lenient with him in passing sentence claiming he committed the crimes out of influence from Satan.

However, Mchinji Police Station’s Head of Prosecution, Assistant Superintendent Sadly Sambo asked the court to mete out a stiffer sentence to the accused, arguing that cases of defilement and robbery were on the rise in the district.

He further said a stiffer sentence would deter would-be offenders from committing similar crimes.

First Grade Magistrate MacArthur Mtalimanja concurred with the state and sentenced Phiri to six years in prison with hard labour for defilement and five years in prison with hard labour for robbery.

Mtalimanja said the sentences would run concurrently.

According to the Deputy Public Relations Officer for Mchinji Police Station, the accused, Chikondi Kawaza, comes from Nyoka Village in Traditional Authority Nyoka in Mchinji District.

Source:Mana