A BINGA taxi driver fled from the Hwange courts while awaiting sentence after being convicted of raping a mentally-challenged 16-year-old girl yesterday.
NOKUTHABA DLAMINI OWN CORRESPONDENT
Professor Mpala (36) of Binga had just been convicted of rape by Hwange regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga when he disappeared.
Malunga adjourned the court for 15 minutes to enable her to consider an appropriate sentence for Mpala, but he slipped out of the court room and scaled the fence making good his escape.
Malunga immediately issued a warrant for his arrest and police have launched a massive manhunt for him.
Prosecuting, Bheki Tshabalala told the court that on February 21 2012 at around 5pm, the mentally-challenged girl was sent to Govera business centre by her mother to buy mealie-meal.
As she was making her way home after buying the mealie-meal, it started raining and Mpala, who had parked close to the shops, called her to shelter in his kombi.
Mpala was with two men in the car whom he ordered to go and buy some meat while he ushered the girl to the back seat. Mpala allegedly grabbed her by the neck and closed her mouth before raping her once.
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He warned the girl not to disclose the offence to anyone.
On April 13, her mother realised that she was losing too much weight and was always complaining of stomach pains, and took her to Binga Hospital where she was immediately admitted.
It was discovered that she was already pregnant and HIV-positive. The doctors also noted that she was mentally challenged although it was moderate. During questioning, the girl revealed that she had been raped by Mpala and threatened with death if she revealed the crime.
However, Mpala denied the allegations and told the court that the two had been lovers since January and she had consented to the sexual intercourse.
Mpala had been out on bail during the trial.