By Isaac Zulu
A 55-year old man has been committed to the High Court for sentencing after he was convicted for defiling his 15-year-old granddaughter.
Before Kapiri Mposhi magistrate Mwila Malupande was Jimmy Kangwe, a peasant farmer of Brunelli area in Chief Mukonchi’s area in Kapiri Mposhi district.
It was alleged that on August 26, 2023 Kangwe had carnal knowledge of a 15-year-old girl contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
When the matter came up for plea, Kangwe pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement.
Asked on the relationship between him and the victim in the matter, Kangwe told court that she was his granddaughter.
The state led evidence from three prosecution witnesses.
The court heard that on the material day around 20:30 hours Kangwe told his granddaughter to enter the room where he was sleeping and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.
And when the 15-year-old screamed for help, some family members came out and chased Kangwe, who ran away.
Kangwe was, however, apprehended by some alert members of the community about 700 metres away from the village where he defiled his granddaughter.
He was later taken to police where he was charged and arrested for the subject offence.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, Kangwe was found with a case to answer and, subsequently, placed on his defence.
In his defence, Kangwe told court that the case in which he was standing trial was fabricated against him.
Asked why he ran away from the village when alert members of the community confronted him, Kangwe said he was scared that he would be beaten to death by members of the community.
But passing judgement in the matter, magistrate Malupande noted that the prosecution team had proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt.
She then convicted Kangwe and, subsequently, committed him to the High Court for sentencing.
