Bulawayo Man Acquitted Of Kidnapping, Sexually Abusing Schoolgirl

A Bulawayo man, Lamone Chirikeno, has been acquitted by a magistrate of charges including kidnapping, unlawful detention, and having sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old Townsend High School pupil. The alleged offences spanned nearly a month.

Chirikeno, from the Barham Green suburb, appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Sibonginkosi Mkandla.

He was represented by Gary Sengweni of Sengweni Legal Practice.

In her judgment, the magistrate said the girl had lied to Chirikeno about her age and had voluntarily fled from her home. Said Mkandla:

“The complainant told the court that she fled her home after her father caught her standing outside the yard with her boyfriend.

“She said she was afraid her father would beat her. She told the court that she stayed with one friend for a week and another friend for a week.

“After that, she told the court she met the accused during a night out and told him she was about to turn 19.

“She said she voluntarily stayed with the accused for two weeks and said she was afraid that her father would beat her if she returned to her family home.”

The magistrate also said the accused repeatedly asked the girl her age, and she consistently claimed that she was above the age of consent. Mkandla:

“It follows that the accused believed her, as she insisted she was old enough. In her testimony, her mother concurred with the complainant.

“The State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed the crime; as such, the accused is found not guilty and acquitted.”

Prosecutor Tsungai Mutapi alleged that on 20 September this year, Chirikeno kidnapped the girl and took her to his home, where he reportedly slept with her multiple times, despite knowing she was below the age of consent.

The girl’s mother reported the matter to the police after Chirikeno posted images of her daughter on social media.

A neighbour who saw the images on Facebook recognised the girl at Chirikeno’s home and alerted the police, which led to his arrest. — _*BMetro*_