State Witness Corroborates Godfatha Templeman's Defence, Says Victim Was Running Away From Sexually Abusive Father

A state witness in the case against Simbarashe Maphosa, better known as Godfatha Templeman, corroborated his story saying that the victim was running away from her father who used to sexually abuse her. Maphosa is facing charges of kidnapping a minor although he has said that the girl, who is also his neighbour,  intended to run away from her abusive parents to South Africa.

The state witness who is a friend of the alleged victim told Harare magistrate Bianca Makwande,

She told me on several occasions that she was being raped by her father and everyone in the family knew, but no one was willing to help her. She said the abuse at home was now more serious and could no longer stay…When we arrived in Beitbridge, DJ Templeman stopped us from skipping the country and told her that he will help her to solve the (alleged sexual abuse) problems, but she cried refusing to come back to Harare saying everyone knows about her ordeal but no-one is willing to help.

The trial will continue this week.

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