BULAWAYO – A 21-year-old ice cream vendor from Inyathi who was facing l charges of raping a six- year-old boy has been acquitted after a Bulawayo court found the state’s case to be riddled with inconsistencies.
Bright Gozhorai was cleared at the close of the prosecution’s case by Bulawayo regional magistrate Sibonginkosi Mnkandla, after his lawyer successfully argued that the evidence led by the prosecution was vague and contradictory.
“The state led witnesses. I cross-examined them – their evidence had so many inconsistencies and was not clear. So he was discharged at the close of the state’s case, and the prosecution conceded that their evidence was far from being satisfactory,” said defence lawyer Takunda Chapisa.
Prosecutor Nomthandazo Mafu had alleged that Gozhorai lured the boy, a Grade 1 student at Lorton Primary School, into his room with the promise of ice cream before allegedly sodomising him.
The incident was said to have taken place sometime in January this year during the day at the accused’s home in Village 3, Badala.
The case came to light after the child’s teachers noticed unusual behaviour and questioned him, leading to a police report being filed by his mother. Gozhorai was arrested after an investigation by the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
He was referred to the hospital and a report was produced as exhibit.
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