The Blantyre Chief Resident Magistrate’s court has convicted and sentenced an 18-year-old man, Oscar Laurent to 18 years imprisonment with hard labour for having sexual intercourse with a 4-year-old girl.
Public Relations Officer for Soche Police Station, Sergeant Aaron Chilala, has confirmed about the conviction of Laurent.
Sergeant Chilala said that the court heard through State Prosecutor Sergeant Miriam Semu that Laurent committed the offence on August 26, 2024.
He further said that the prosecutor told the court that the victim went missing from her grand mother’s house at around noon and efforts to trace her to partake her lunch proved futile.
Semu further informed the court that the victim was later seen coming out of the house of Laurent (who are neighbours with the victim’s parents) whilst crying.
Upon being questioned, she narrated that she was feeling pain pointing at her private parts; and later explained that the accused removed her clothes and made her lay on the bed and forced himself on her.
The child was then taken to One Stop Centre at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital where medical examinations proved that she was indeed sexually abused and was treated.
The matter was then brought to the attention of police who apprehended Laurent and charged him with a case of having sexual intercourse with a minor.
In his court appearance, Laurent denied the charge levelled against him prompting the state to parade five witnesses who proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
In her antecedents, Semu prayed to the court to impose a stiffer punishment to the convict citing the serious nature of the crime and that the court must also consider the traumatic experience that the act will long live with the victim.
Passing his judgement, Chief Resident Magistrate Godfrey Mchilima concurred with the state’s submissions and went on to sentence Oscar Laurent to 18 years imprisonment with hard labour; citing that it will serve as a deterrent to the would be offenders.
Laurent hails from Mwitiwa village, Traditional Authority Boyid in Thyolo district.
