Phalombe First Grade Magistrate court has convicted and sentenced a 23-year-old man, Junior Manyozo to 14 years imprisonment with hard labor for defiling a 13 year-old-girl.
State prosecutor Sub Inspector Dungisayo Mbepula told the court that between 5 and 6 June 2023, Manyozo abducted the minor and kept her in his house where he forced himself into the girl.
In mitigation, the convict prayed for leniency, saying it was the girl who followed her to his house.
Passing his sentence, First Grade Magistrate Leonad Fletcher Mtosa slapped the convict with a 14-year jail term with hard labor arguing the sentence should save as a deterrent to would-be offenders.
Junior Manyozo, hails from Chibwana Village, Traditional Authority Mkhumba in Phalombe district.
