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The Senior Resident Magistrate Court at Jenda in Mzimba district has sentenced a 27-year-old man to 11 years imprisonment with hard labor for defiling a 14-year-old girl.
State Prosecutor Reveland Gondwe has confirmed the development while identifying the suspect as Cornelius Chavula.
The court heard through the State Prosecutor Gondwe that the suspect has repeatedly defiled the victim for a period of three months, from November last year to January this year, and was threatening her not to reveal the matter and enticing the girl with money.
Gondwe said after some time, the victim’s mother noticed some changes and when asked, she revealed to have been defiled several times by Chavula.
The victim was then taken to the hospital for medical examination, where she was found pregnant.
According to Gondwe, the victim’s mother reported the matter to the police, and Chavula was then arrested and charged with defilement, which is contrary to Section 138 of the Penal Code and attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Appearing before the court, Chavula pleaded not guilty to the charge prompting the court to parade 4 state witnesses who proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
In his submissions, Gondwe pleads for a stiffer punishment to deter other-would-be offenders, as cases of defilement are rampant in the district despite ongoing awareness campaigns.
