Elibabeth Mashiri
Midlands-A 32-year-old Shurugwi man left the court in shock after he blamed alcohol for causing him to pull down pants of a 10-year-old girl after he mistook her for his wife.
The man, Sadiki Zhuwao, was found pulling down the underpants of a neighbour’s daughter and could have gone further if he was not interrupted.
But he said he was so drunk that he missed his house and ended up in the 10-year-old girl’s bedroom next door.
On the day he arrived home at midnight and said he was so drunk that he mistook the young girl for his wife and hence he started pulling down her undergarments.
Despite his plea of not guilty, Shurugwi Resident Magistrate Tayengwa Sangster convicted him on charges of unlawful entry and attempted rape.
He sentenced him to 12 months in jail and suspended three months for good behaviour.
The court heard that on January 24, 2017 at around midnight Zhuwao gained entry into the complainant’s house through a French door which had three broken window panes.
After gaining entry Zhuwao went to where a 10-year-old was sleeping and pulled the minor’s paint down to her thighs.
The complainant covered her face with a blanket and pulled her pant up.
The court heard that the movements alerted the complainant’s mother who then woke up to find his neighbor in her daughter’s blankets.
Zhuwao was arrested and brought to court.
