A 52-year-old man accused of raping his stepdaughter avoided jail time after she told the court that she had consented to their sexual encounters, claiming she had seduced him into it, reported <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/stepdaughter-seduces-father-saves-him-from-rape-sentence/">The Sunday News</a>.
The man, from Epping Forest in Nyamandlovu, Matabeleland North Province, was originally charged with rape.
However, the charge was changed to having sexual relations within a prohibited family relationship after the stepdaughter, referred to as an adult but whose age was not specified, admitted that she was in love with him and agreed to the sexual activities.
As the main witness, she told the court that she had approached her stepfather and told him about a dream she had in which they were intimate. This dream led to their sexual interactions, as he gave in to her advances.
In his ruling, Bulawayo regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza explained how the stepdaughter’s testimony influenced the change in charges. Said Mabeza:
<blockquote>
The State led evidence from the complainant. The witness, however, gave statements that frustrated the State case as she admitted that she consented to all the sexual intercourse you had with her. Instead of being charged with rape, the court had to alter the charge.
In mitigation, the man pleaded with the court to give him a non-custodial sentence as he was the family’s breadwinner with five school-going children including the stepdaughter’s two children.
He said he was tempted by his stepdaughter’s advancements and acted irresponsibly.
</blockquote>
Prosecutor Dominic Moyo told the court that between 2020 and 2021, in the bush at Epping Forest in Nyamandlovu, the man had sex with his adult stepdaughter without her consent.
Moyo added that a medical report related to the case could be presented in court as evidence.
Even though the charge was changed, Magistrate Mabeza sentenced the man to 24 months in prison for having sexual intercourse within a prohibited degree of relationship.
If he had continued to face the original rape charges, he could have received a sentence of 10 years or more.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

A man was accused of raping his stepdaughter, but she said she seduced him. She told the court she agreed to the sexual encounters. The man was charged with having sex within a family relationship, not rape. The stepdaughter said she loved him and initiated the sexual interaction. The man, who had five children to support, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. The charge change helped him avoid a longer sentence. The stepdaughter's testimony influenced the court to change the charge.

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