A 24-YEAR-OLD Gutu man was acquitted by Gweru Magistrates’ Court of accusations of having sexual intercourse with a minor, with whom he was cohabiting after it was proved that she lied to him about her age.
IVAN NDLOVU OWN CORRESPONDENT
Simbilisiyo Chisara was acquitted on Tuesday after the State withdrew rape charges against him when he appeared before magistrate Judith Taruvinga charged for raping a 14-year-old girl he was living with.
Chisara told the court that after they had had intercourse on March 3, the girl refused to go back to her home, saying she wanted to stay with him.
During the trial, the girl told the court that she had lied to Chisara about her age because she was in love with him.
“I lied to him (Chisara) saying that I was 17 years old because I loved him,” she said.
Chisara was, however, warned by Taruvinga not to have intercourse with the girl, since he now knew she was underage and that he should wait until she turns 16.
Prosecutor, Pride Gomera told the court that on March 1 this year, Chisara met the girl at Lalapanzi shops and proposed love to her and she accepted.
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On March 3, Chisara invited the girl to his residence and they engaged in intercourse once which the girl consented to.
The following day, the girl went back to her home and collected her clothes and returned the same day and they started cohabiting.
