By STEPHEN MWEWA
THE Kasama High Court has sentenced a-22-year old dependant to 18 years imprisonment with hard labour, for defiling a-10-year old girl.
Richard Mpundu of Muya Village in Nsama district was charged with defilement for having unlawful carnal knowledge of the minor on December 9, 2019.
Facts before the court were that on the material day, the minor’s mother went into the field to collect cassava in the morning leaving her daughter and the dependant home.
During trial before the subordinate court, the minor narrated that Mpundu then took advantage of that to get hold of her and defiled her.
Mpundu was found guilty after the trial and committed to the High Court for sentencing.
In mitigation, Mpundu through a Legal Aid lawyer pleaded for maximum leniency saying he was remorseful for what he did and that he was of youthful age who can transform if given chance to go back in society.
In response when passing the sentence, Ndola-based High Court Justice Emeria Sunkutu, who is sitting in Kasama High Court said she had considered hismitigation and sentenced him accordingly.
