The First Grade Magistrate (FGM) Court in Mchinji has convicted and sentenced a 46-year-old man, Andrew Peter, to 14 years in prison for having a carnal knowledge of a nine year-old girl.
This was after the State prosecutor, Sub Inspector Gerald Ngoma of Kamwendo Police Post, had told the court that the convict sought an opportunity to defile the victim by locking her up in his house when her parents had left her home for farm activities.
According to a report from Mchinji Police Station public relations officer, Constable Limbani Mpinganjira, upon returning from the field, a brother to the victim who saw the convict taking his sister into the house, narrated everything how the young sister got locked up with the suspect inside his house, prompting the mother to check her private parts and she noticed some things that looked like semen.
The matter was instantly taken to Guilleme Police Unit where they were issued a medical report. Results from the hospital proved positive.
Appearing before the court, Peter denied the charge until the state paraded four witnesses, including the medical evidence, vindicating the convict’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Andrew Peter prayed for special consideration as he is a bread winner, on the other hand, the state pleaded for a stiffer punishment since the suspect was supposed to protect the victim considering the age gap between the two.
In passing the sentence, FGM Yohane Nkhata concurred with the state and went ahead sentencing Andrew Peter to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.
Andrew Peter hails from Kapanila Village, under Traditional Authority Zulu in Mchinji.
