NkhataBay Bay man to spend 14 years in prison for rape
The First Grade Magistrate’s court in Nkhata Bay has convicted and sentenced a 52-year-old Joseph Phiri to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour for raping a 17 year-old girl in Chintheche.
The court heard through state prosecutor Sub Inspector Chikondi Lipato that the girl on May 4, 2022, evening, went to a rice field where she was scaring off birds, from destroying the crop.
Whilst at the filed, the suspect came pretending to hook some fish from the river.
The suspect suddenly grabbed the girl with force, undressed her and raped her.
He was, however, found red handed by the girl’s grandmother raping the girl. They shouted for help until some villagers managed to apprehend the suspect who wanted to escape.
The suspect was brought to police where he was charged with rape and the victim was immediately referred to hospital where medical examination revealed that she was raped.
Appearing in court on July 7, 2022 despite denying the charge, three state witness testified against the suspect. Medical examination report also supplemented the evidence prompting the court to find him guilty.
In submission, the prosecutor Lipato said as the nation is on a great fight to end violence against children and women, the convict would have taken his role to protect the girl. He therefore prayed for stiffer punishment.
In mitigation the convict said he looks after his family and some orphans who may suffer should he be sent to jail.
When passing sentence, the magistrate Ezekiel Kamtikana quashed the mitigating factors and concurred with the state.
He therefore ordered him to serve a 14 year jail term with effect from the date of his arrest.
The convict, Joseph Phiri, hails from Kadoli Village in Traditional Authority Fukamapiri in Nkhata Bay District.