Chikwawa First Grade Magistrate Court on Thursday sentenced 38-year-old Alfred Kangisa to 13 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling his step daughter aged 12.

The court heard that between November, 2021 and February, 2022, the child’s mother was nursing a patient at the hospital and Kangisa took advantage of the situation to defile the girl twice.

Upon getting suspicious of the conduct of the two, a neighbour reported this to the uncle of the girl who then reported the matter to police.

In mitigation, the accused asked the court to be lenient saying it was not his intention to defile the girl, but he had missed being intimate with his wife who was out of the house for so long.

However, State Prosecutor, Stephen Genti, told the court that despite Kangisa being first offender, the matter was very serious because instead of protecting and supporting the child, he decided to defile her

In his judgment, First Grade Magistrate, Gladson Chirundu, agreed with the state that the offence committed was very serious and was convinced with the evidence provided.

He then sentenced Kangisa to 13 years imprisonment with hard labour.