Stepfather caged 15 years for raping stepdaughter

Paul Pindani in Chinhoyi

A CHINHOYI man, who deflowered his stepdaughter thrice on different occasions, appeared in court.

The man, Lovemore Phiri, 48, of Staff quarters in Chinhoyi, was arraigned before a Chinhoyi magistrate.

Phiri appeared before regional magistrate, Ignatius Mugova, charged with Three Counts of rape, the complainant is his 12-year- old step daughter.

Phiri is employed at Loma gundi College, as a general worker.

Mugova sentenced him to 15 years in jail.

Prosecuting, Nyasha Sibesha, told the court that on August 21 2022, and at 8pm, at 2804 Staff Quarters, Phiri came home drunk and found the juvenile cooking.

He called his stepdaughter and told her that he wanted to have sexual intercourse with her.

The juvenile refused and this did not augur very well with Phiri, who then forcibly pulled her into his bedroom, where he took off the juvenile`s underclothes and had sexual intercourse with her, without her consent.

The court further heard that the juvenile did not tell anyone about the issue since Phiri had told her that if she discloses the matter to anyone, he was not going to buy them food.

On the Second count, the court heard that on August 22 2022, at the staff quarters, Phiri found the juvenile alone.

He once again told her that he wanted to have sexual intercourse with her but she refused.

The court further heard the juvenile went outside the house and came back some minutes later and entered into the kitchen and started doing her homework.

Phiri like a man possessed, forcibly pulled her into his room and abused her once, without her consent.

She did not disclose the matter to anyone.

On the third count, the court heard that on August 23, the juvenile was washing some plates outside.

Phiri dragged her into the house and she tried to escape but she was over powered.

Inside the house, Phiri pulled up her pants and abused the juvenile once without her consent.

She did not tell anyone about the issue until on September 16 2022, when she informed her guidance and counseling teacher about the abuse.

Her teacher teamed up with other teachers and reported the matter to social services.

They were referred to the police and told to go to Chinhoyi Provincial hospital for a medical examination.

Phiri acted unlawfully.