The Senior Resident Magistrate court in Zomba has sentenced an 18-year-old man to four years imprisonment for defiling a 13-year-old girl.

Chikondi Richard is said to have committed the crime in November last year.

Appearing before Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe, Richard asked the court for leniency citing that he is young and also a first time offender.

But the state objected pointing out that gravity of the crime and its impact on the girl’s life.

Michongwe concurred with the state and sentenced Richard to four years imprisonment with hard labour as a deterrent to would-be offenders.