Assistant Public Relations Officer for Mzuzu Police Rose Chipyola said court heard through state prosecutor, Sgt Esnart Moyo that the incident happened in the month of December, 2023 when the victim’s parents left her with her grandmother and left for farming.

She said,” The court further heard that the victim has a disability that she does not walk and does not speak

“Coming from the farm the victim’s parents did not find the girl home, after confronting her granny she was skeptical of her whereabouts, then the parent started searching for her.”

She said the girl was found in a nearby bush100m away from home while naked, and beside her was Phiri who naked as well and fast asleep. The parents shouted for help and brought Phiri to police.

Appearing before court, the convict pleaded guilty to the charge of having sexual intercourse with a child.

In mitigation, the convict pleaded for the court’s leniency when passing its sentence stating that he is the first offender and that he did that under influence of alcohol.

However, the state prosecutor Esnat Moyo prayed for a stiffer punishment stating that the offence attracts maximum sentence of life imprisonment and that the convict was fully in his senses as he managed to carry the disabled girl on a 100m distance.

Passing the sentence, the Principle Resident Magistrate Clemence Chamwenda concurred with the state’s prosecutor thereby convicted and sentenced him to 21 years imprisonment with hard labour.

Misheck Phiri hails from Dolora village in the area of Traditional Authority Mtwalo in Mzimba district.