Woman leads rapist into mob trap

By Auxilia Katongomara

A BULAWAYO rapist was arrested after his victim tricked him into accompanying her to her home where she had said they would have comfortable sex. He walked into a trap when his victim alerted members of the public who apprehended him as they walked to her home.

Mkhululi Ncube, 30, of Pelandaba West suburb raped a 38-year-old woman in a maize field in Pumula East before she tricked him into believing she had enjoyed the encounter so much that she wanted more.  She suggested that they go to her home in Pumula so that they could have another round.

Ncube who was convicted on his own plea of guilty was nabbed after the woman notified members of the public as they neared her home.

Prosecuting, Trust Muduma told the court that on July 27 this year, at about 8PM, the woman was walking alone near Mara  turn-off along Hyde Park Road.

“She saw Ncube walking towards her and she quickened her pace but he ran after her, grabbed her by the throat and dragged her into a maize field,” Muduma told the court.

He said while in the maize field, Ncube forced his victim to lie down, removed her panties and raped her.

“He attempted to rape her for the second time but the woman suggested that they go to her house to have proper sexual intercourse and he agreed,” said the prosecutor.

The court heard that as they neared the woman’s house, she saw a group of people and screamed for help.

Ncube tried to run away but was caught by members of the public and taken to Pumula Police Station.

Regional magistrate Crispen James Mberewere slapped Ncube with a 12-year prison sentence of which three years were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in five years.

In passing sentence, Mberewere said rapists deserved to be removed from society.

“Rape is always a serious offence and offenders deserve imprisonment. In arriving at the right length of incarceration, the court will take into consideration the guilty plea by the accused as well as the fact that he is a first time offender who also needs rehabilitation,” said Mberewere.

In mitigation, Ncube told the court he was married and his wife was expecting their first child. Chronicle