(Last Updated on December 26, 2015 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – For atonement of the sins of his client, a Harare lawyer told the court that it should lessen bail deposit for his client who is facing allegations of raping a form one pupil because he is a “pauper”.
But presiding Harare magistrate Elijah Makomo had none of it.
“That he is a pauper I would not know but what the court is interested in is doing everything in the interest of justice. The accused should post a quantum of $100 and return for trial on January 7 next year,” said the magistrate.
Defense counsel Steven Chikotora pleaded with the court.
“Your worship, as you can see, the accused is a pauper along with his relatives. If the bail quantum is high, he will not afford it. I am proposing that he deposits $50,” Chikotora pleaded to no avail.
Glen Gapare (35) was not asked to plead to the charges of raping and 18-year-old form one student when he appeared for his hearing.
Magistrate Makomo asked the State represented by prosecutor Kudzai Chigwedere to reconcile how the complainant was 18-years-old while doing from one.
“I talked to the complainant, and she told me she had repeated two grades and after primary education went and stayed in South Africa before coming back to pursue her education,” Chigwedere said.
“I talked to the complainant, and she told me she had repeated two grades and after primary education went and stayed in South Africa before coming back to pursue her education,” Chigwedere said.