Rapist stepfather infects minor

The 48-year-old rapist (who can not be named to protect the minor victim) had pleaded not guilty but was convicted by Regional Magistrate Ms Gladys Pise.

According to the State, the step father, a policeman, and the girl’s mother co-habited between 2005 and last year. It was during this period that he raped the victim on several occasions during the mother’s absence.

The minor contracted a sexually transmitted infection and developed pimples on her genitalia. Bilton prepared a herbal concoction, which he gave her to drink and also applied burnt herbs to the pimples. The girl later reported the abuse to her mother who was by then bedridden. The mother, however, died before taking any action. The abuse came to light after the 12-year-old went to reside with an aunt who took her to the Family Support Clinic in Harare upon noticing the pimples.

Tests proved that she had an STI and was HIV positive.

The ‘father’ also tested positive after his arrest. During trial, the girl revealed that she had attended school only up to grade one and that her step-father barred her from playing with other children of her age.

He denied the charges, saying she was already ill when he moved in with her mother. He also accused girl’s guardians of influencing her to implicate him. Ms Pise sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment with a year conditionally suspended for five years.