Mangochi senior resident magistrate court on Thursday convicted and sentenced Edwin Sibale to 18 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling his own niece.
State prosecutor sub inspector Elias Chitsulo told court that Edwin was staying with his elder brother in one compound but in different houses at village Muonda in Cape Maclear, Mangochi district.
Mangochi police public relations officer Rodrick Maida said in October 2019 convict’s elder brother left his 15 year old daughter in his house with her step mother for fishing.
“This angered the wife who instead snatched the girl’s beddings as punishment for her father’s sins. In the night the girl sought refuge in her uncle’s house which was few metres away from her house,”
“On first night the girl shared same bed with her uncle who is single till morning without being defiled. The convict defiled the girl several times each night for the next eight days,” he said.
According to Maida, upon arrival on the ninth day her father stopped the girl from spending nights with her uncle.
“Thereafter the step mother noticed some changes in the body of the girl that prompted her to invite elder women for questioning,”
“The girl was taken to monkey-bay community hospital for check up where it was revealed that the girl is pregnant,” he said.
Appearing before court Edwin pleaded not guilty to charges levelled against him that prompted the state to parade five witnesses who testified beyond any reasonable doubt that made court to find him guilty.
In mitigation Edwin asked court for leniency saying the girl attempted him by spending nights on his bed.
In submission state prayed for stiff penalty citing as an uncle convict has an obligation of protecting the girl but he chooses otherwise
Passing sentence senior resident magistrate Joshua Nkhono concurred with the state hence he was slapped with 18 years imprisonment with hard labour as a deterrent to would be criminals.
Edwin (41) comes from village Muonda in traditional authority Nankumba in Mangochi.
