A 52-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in jail after being found guilty of defiling a 12-year-old girl in Taita Taveta.
Appearing before Taveta Principal Magistrate Eugene Kadima, Evans Manochi Metioni initially denied the charges but was convicted after the prosecution brought five witnesses, including the girl, to testify against him, proving beyond doubt that he was guilty of the offense.
In a statement on X, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said he reportedly committed the offence between September 2 and September 15, 2023, at Challa village in Taveta Sub-County.
"In his submission, prosecution counsel pleaded with the court for stiffer punishment, saying that the accused person knew the victim as his neighbour and took advantage of her.”
"The Court noted the evidence of minor and ruled that the accused manipulated the victim with money to satisfy his twisted desires, leading to multiple instances of sexual abuse."
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To lessen his sentence, the defendant, who faces three additional pending defilement charges in the same court, appealed for leniency, emphasizing his role as a family provider and his desire to support his wife and children.
Upon delivering the judgment, Kadima acknowledged the testimonies of the witnesses, which highlighted crucial legal aspects of the defilement case.
Additionally, Kadima underscored the severity of the crime and its profound impact on the child both psychologically and physically.
