Bulawayo Man Jailed 15 Years For Raping Cousin In Car

A 25-year-old Bulawayo man has been jailed for 15 years after raping his 22-year-old cousin in a car. He told her he had been attracted to her for a long time.

The man, from Sotshangane Flats, cannot be named to protect the victim’s identity. He appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Shingai Mutiro, who found him guilty of rape.

In sentencing, Magistrate Mutiro said rape is a grave offence and noted that sexual relations between cousins are prohibited.

He imposed a 15-year prison term, saying the crime involved aggravating circumstances because the offender used violence. The victim sustained bruises to her hand and back.

Prosecutor Owen Mugari told the court that at around 11 pm on 12 March, the accused jumped over the perimeter wall at the complainant’s home in Thorngrove and knocked on her bedroom window.

“The accused person identified himself and requested that the complainant assist him with attending to his motor vehicle that he claimed had developed a fault,” said Mugari.

The court heard that the complainant agreed and unlocked the gate. The accused then asked her to go with him to a filling station to buy fuel.

The pair drove into town, stopping briefly at a local nightclub before heading to Thorngrove.

“Upon arrival at Humbly Road, Thorngrove, the complainant wanted to disembark from the vehicle, but the accused person locked all doors of the vehicle and came to sit at the back seat where the complainant was,” said Mugari.

The court heard that the accused began telling the complainant she was beautiful and that he had admired her. He then forcibly pinned her against the seat, on her back and facing upwards.

They struggled until the complainant fell into the space between the front and back seats, still facing upwards.

The accused pulled his trousers down to his knees, lifted the complainant, pinned her against the seat and raped her once without protection.

The matter was reported to the police, leading to the accused’s arrest. The complainant was taken to hospital for a medical examination, and the medical report was submitted to the court as an exhibit.

More: B-Metro