Wed, 21 Jun 2017 10:41:45 +0000
BY CHINTU MALAMBO
THE Lusaka High Court was turned into a scene of mourning when a 67- year-old man was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment with hard labour for indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl.
The relatives of the man jailed by High Court Judge Maria Kawimbe broke into tears as she pronounced the sentence.
Particulars of the offence were that Mwangala Muyauluka was on 25 November 2016 convicted for indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl of Lusaka.
The court heard that Muyauluka unlawfully undressed the juvenile with the intention to have carnal knowledge of her, while she was home alone.
The convict was caught by the father of the victim and the young girl’s panty was presented before court to support the charge.
Judge Kawimbe said that the accused was found guilty considering the evidence before the court and that the conviction was properly entered.
“Considering all the evidence, the accused was found guilty and brought for sentencing,” she said.
In her ruling, Judge Kawimbe expressed particular displeasure considering the age of the convict, stating that he was supposed to be looked at as a responsible member of society but in fact he was a predator with no ability to discern between what was morally acceptable or not.
“I find that the convict crosses all moral and civil boundaries in attempting to rape an 11-year-old girl who may never recover from the assault on her by an old man.
“Society thinks he is responsible when in fact he is a predator and a danger to society who cannot distinguish between right and wrong,” the judge said.
Passing judgment, Ms Justice Kawimbe imposed a deterrence sentence of 16 years with hard labour, backdated to December 2016, the date of arrest.
