Traffic cop up for rape

Patrick: Patrick Chitumba, patrick.chitumba@chronicle.co.zw
A GWERU-based traffic police officer reportedly used a burger and a coke as bait to lure his neighbour’s daughter before allegedly raping her.
Police constable Michael Jackson (32) appeared before Gweru regional magistrate, Mr Christopher Maturure, facing one count of rape.

Jackson, through his lawyer, Mr Esau Mandipa of Mandipa, Makwara and Chikukwa Legal Practice, pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was granted US$100 bail.
Prosecutor, Mr Talent Tadenyika, said Jackson, who is stationed at ZRP Main Camp, Gweru, allegedly raped the complainant, a Form 4 learner at Thornhill High School in Gweru in his car.
“On October 28, 2022, at around 8pm, the complainant arrived home from Windsor Park where she was attending a party with her friends,” he said.

Mr Tadenyika told the court that the girl knocked on her parents’ door but there was no response. Jackson reportedly spotted the girl while standing outside the house.
The court heard that Jackson approached the girl and asked her to accompany him to the city centre so he could buy her food.
They got into Jackson’s vehicle and drove to town.

“The accused bought a burger and a drink and gave the complainant. They then got into the car and drove to Gweru Police Station where the accused parked the vehicle.”
The court heard that Jackson allegedly requested the complainant to sit in the front seat and she complied.
“The accused person started fondling the complainant’s breasts before removing her clothes and raped her,” said Mr Tadenyika.

The court heard that after the alleged rape, Jackson drove and dropped her off at home.
The girl found the doors locked and no one opened for her when she knocked.
She then went to Jackson’s house and asked for a place to sleep for the night.
The matter came to light the following day when the girl’s parents asked where she slept.

She narrated her ordeal and a report was made to the police leading to Jackson’s arrest.
Meanwhile, A 21-year-old man from Chirumhanzu was yesterday sentenced to 15 years in jail for raping his 11-year-old niece.
The girl is in Grade Four at a local school.
The accused was convicted on his own plea of guilty to rape by Gweru regional magistrate, Mr Christopher Maturure.

In passing the sentence, Mr Maturure noted that the accused took advantage of being close to the minor (name withheld to protect her identity) since they are related and raped her.
He said the accused deserved a long custodial sentence to send a message to would-be offenders that the court does not tolerate such crimes.
The prosecutor, Mr Sibangani Dube, told the court that sometime in April last year at around 10am, the girl was sleeping alone in her bedroom hut when the accused walked in and raped her.

“The complainant was home alone after her grandmother went to attend a funeral wake,” said Mr Dube.
He said the accused entered the hut and grabbed the girl from behind.
“The accused removed the complainant’s pants and she started screaming while attempting to flee but he overpowered her before covering her mouth using his hand. He pushed the complainant onto the floor and raped her once,” said the prosecutor.

Mr Dube said the girl disclosed the rape to her school teacher after a class awareness campaign on child sexual abuse.
A report was made to the police leading to his arrest.