Former TV actor acquitted of sodomy

A FORMER television drama actor was recently acquitted on charges of raping and sodomising his three minor children.

The 34-year-old man, who was facing nine counts of rape and one of aggravated indecent assault, had denied the charges when he appeared before regional magistrate Mr Clever Tsikwa.

After a full trial Mr Tsikwa concluded that the State failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and cleared the man of all the charges.

“Medical reports of the two children (girls) were produced and they showed no visible evidence of penetration. Only on one of the children was some discharge noticed, but hymen was intact,” said Mr Tsikwa.

“The first complainant testified that she was raped on a daily basis but in court she said it was five times. It became apparent that the whole case is a bag of lies. In as much as the witnesses try to convince the court that they were abused, it is not supported by medical evidence.

“Accused insisted he was HIV positive and requested to have the children tested. The court made an order and they were all tested. The children were found to be HIV negative while the accused was positive.

“These are trumped-up charges. While testifying, the other complainant alleged that he was raped by one Baba Hanzu, revealing the inconsistencies in the State case.”

The State, led by Mr Liberty Gono, was alleging that some time this year, the six-year-old minor was sleeping in the dining-room together with her father.

It was alleged that the man woke up and undressed the minor before raping her. He continuously raped the minor on different occasions before threatening her with death, it was alleged.

The man was also being accused of raping his 10-year-old daughter in 2012 and sodomising his four-year-old son on different occasions.