Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Defiling Step-daughter in Blantyre

A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for sexually assaulting his 15-year-old stepdaughter over several months in Machinjiri.

Robert Matiki received the stiff sentence from Limbe Senior Resident Magistrate Court . Evidence showed the abuse began in 2023 soon after Matiki married the girl’s mother.

Court records reveal Matiki first took the victim to a maize field where he threatened to kill her if she reported the assault. The attacks continued until early 2024 when physical evidence surfaced.

Prosecutor Monica Muotchamanja presented medical reports and witness testimony securing the conviction. Matiki denied the charges, claiming his estranged wife fabricated the story after their marriage failed.

The magistrate dismissed this defense, noting the overwhelming evidence and Matiki’s violation of trust as a stepfather.

Matiki, from Mgalamadzi Village, will serve his sentence at Chichiri Prison. Child rights activists have welcomed the ruling as a strong message against defilement cases.