A man in Migori was sentenced to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of defiling a minor.
Lameck Ochieng was handed his sentence after the 11-year-old victim who happens to be his niece positively identified him in court.
The court heard that Ochieng committed the heinous act in the Kameji area in Rongo sub-county on December 13, 2020.
On the said date, Ochieng lured his victim to a nearby maize farm where he defiled her. Afterwards, he threatened the minor not to disclose what had transpired to anyone.
The minor was forced to reveal to her mother what occurred as she was in pain. Her mother subsequently reported the matter to the area assistant chief.
After the matter was reported, the chief asked the minor to lead them to where the unfortunate incident occurred to which the matter pointed the maize farm where she was defiled.
The matter was then reported to the police and the minor was taken to the hospital. Medical examinations revealed that the minor had been sexually violated as she was bleeding and her hymen had been broken.
In his ruling, Rongo principal magistrate Raymond Lang'at strongly condemned the accused. He also confirmed that the accused had been identified by five witnesses.
“Having considered the nature and circumstances of the offence, and the time the accused person has spent in prison and his mitigation, what is in record is that the accused person is the uncle of the complainant,” he said.
He stated that the accused should have been the father figure and guardian of the minor considering that her father had died.
“Considering all those and the penalty prescribed under the sexual offence acts, and to be an example to the would-be offenders and being that this is an offence that is rampant in this area, and there is need for deterrent, I sentence the accused to life imprisonment,” Lang'at ruled.
The accused had been charged with two counts; defiling his niece and committing an indecent act with a child.
In his defence, Ochieng begged the court for a lenient sentence noting that he had a young family to take care of.
Justice Lang'at, however, dismissed his plea noting that the offence was grave and deserved no mercy.
