By Court Reporter
A 45-year-old man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after a court found him guilty of raping his four-year-old stepdaughter.
Nomore Muzanenhamo was convicted and sentenced following a full trial. Presiding Magistrate Nowel Mupeiwa delivered the ruling, stating that the prosecution had successfully proven its case against the defendant.
According to State prosecutor Cecilia Mashingaidze, the assault occurred after the child’s mother traveled to Mhondoro on March 7 of this year. During her absence, the four-year-old was left in Muzanenhamo’s custody.
Prosecutors told the court that the mother returned the following day, March 8, to find the toddler asleep on a chair. Upon waking the child, the mother noted that the girl was acting unusually withdrawn and did not greet her as she normally would.
The court heard that when the mother lifted the child, she discovered the toddler had soiled her clothing. While changing the girl in a bedroom, the child disclosed to her mother that Muzanenhamo had injured her.
Following the child’s disclosure, the mother inspected her daughter and immediately reported the incident to the authorities. The police report led to Muzanenhamo’s arrest and subsequent prosecution.
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