THE Kabwe High Court has sentenced a 21-year-old man of Serenje to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling his 16-year-old girlfriend.
John Mutewa, who defiled his girlfriend between November 26 and December 10, 2014, in Serenje, pleaded for leniency, saying he committed the offence while having a love affair with the minor.
Mutewa was, however, handed a 15-year jail sentence by Kabwe High Court judge-in-charge Dominic Sichinga
“In exercising leniency, I will sentence you to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour from the date of your arrest, February 2, last year,” Mr Justice Sichinga said.
The judge informed Mutewa that the offence he had committed had a minimum jail sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life imprisonment.
During trial, the girl testified that Mutewa proposed to her in a love letter but she initially turned him down.
She said she later accepted Mutewa’s love proposal after he sent his younger sister to persuade her.
She told the court that a few days later, she went to his place where he used force to defile her.
The girl said after he defiled her, he told her that the relationship was over.
Meanwhile, a-56-year-old deputy head teacher at Chiwempala Primary School, who allegedly defiled a grade five pupil aged 10, has pleaded not guilty, CHINOYI CHIPULU reports from Chingola.
Benson Phiri of Kabundi East Extension popularly known as “Dindadinda” was arrested last week after the victim revealed the ordeal to her mother.
Phiri appeared for plea on Monday before senior resident magistrate Davies Chibwili.
The court room was fully packed by teachers from different schools and residents who went to witness the court proceedings.
“Your honour, I understand, but I deny the charge, I did not do anything,” Phiri said in his plea.
Mr Chibwili adjourned the matter to March 2 for commencement of trial.
Particulars of the offence are that on unknown dates, but between January 1, 2016 and February 1, 2016, Phiri had unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl below the age of 16.
(DailyMail)
Nkhani yo Chindana ni yabwino ngako, when PF leaves office for UPND Such pipo will have their twnokani cut and thrown in the RIVER
…Judges must also exercise their discretion to the fullest….prisons are a cost to govt…burden on tax payers….the man(boy)is only 21 and the girl 16 tho by law regarded as underage…in reality they are very compatible….3 or 6months would be enough to teach him a lesson……..a case of a 56yr old on a 10 yr girl certainly deserves a 15 or more years….just like the other case of a 19 yr old man on a 3yr old baby girl that’s barbaric…life imprisonment would do for such a character..