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Tinotenda Kane Herald Reporter
A 37-year-old Epworth man was yesterday sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison for raping his 13-year-old sister-in-law. The man pleaded not guilty to rape, but was convicted after a full trial before Harare regional magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo. Mr Makomo sentenced him to 20 years before setting aside five years on condition of good behaviour.

Circumstances are that last October, the accused was entrusted with the custody of the complainant by his wife who left for their rural area in Murehwa. She also left behind the couple’s two children aged three and seven years.

He asked the complainant to sleep in his bedroom and she refused. The court heard that when she went to her brother-in-law’s bedroom to prepare the bed for the children, he then took advantage and grabbed her, forcing her on the bed.

He gagged her mouth using his hands and forcibly stripped her naked. After sexually assaulting the complainant, he threatened to kill her if she revealed the matter to anyone. The complainant reported the matter to the police in November following an awareness campaign on sexual abuse, which was carried out by the Justice for Children organisation.