A DETE granny, 61, allegedly assisted her friend to rape her 13-year-old granddaughter in exchange for beer.
Concillia Maripha was jointly charged with her neighbour and friend Bhekimpilo Mvubu, 28, when they appeared before Hwange regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga facing a rape charge.Malunga said prosecutors proved beyond doubt that Mvubu had raped the teen, but acquitted Maripha.
She sentenced Mvubu to 15 years in prison but conditionally suspended three years.
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| 'Rape Assist' Granny Escapes Jail |
Prosecuting, Bheki Tshabalala said sometime in January 2013 Maripha requested Mvubu to buy her beer and promised him sex with her granddaughter.
Mvubu, the court heard, bought Maripha the beer and demanded to be paid.
Later that night, Maripha allegedly locked her granddaughter in the same room with Mvubu and left
"Mvubu went on to force the victim to lie down threatening to assault her if she didn't before raping her while covering her mouth to stifle her screams," said Tshabalala.
He said Mvubu kicked the door open and left.
The court heard the girl did not tell anyone about the sex attack out of fear until she went back to her mother's home in Jambezi, where she narrated what had befallen her. Police were called.
The girl, now 15 years old, told the court that she was at a funeral wake with her grandmother when she decided to retire to bed with her sibling.
"During the night I felt someone touching me. I turned to see who it was and I was surprised to
be greeted by Mvubu. He raped me," said the teenager.
She said although it was dark, she managed to identify Mvubu because of his dreadlocks and familiar voice.
The court further heard that after the rape, the girl fled the homestead and stayed with a relative until her granny located her.
She, however, remained mum.
"Unable to bear it any longer, she decided to confide in her school teacher who alerted her mother? said the prosecutor:
The start of the trial hit snags several times since last year. First, the girl fled from her grandmother's homestead and when she was found, the lawyer who was supposed to represent the two did not attend court
In another instance, the court had to be adjourned to allow Mvubu to bring two witnesses. He claimed to have an alibi One of the witnesses, a village head, inconsistently backed up his claims.
Both witnesses told the court that Mvubu was in Hwange during the month of January but could not remember the dates.
Source: Chronicle
