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Thubelihle Mabhena, Court Reporter
A 63-YEAR-OLD man allegedly dragged a hapless nine- year old girl into West Park cemetery, tried to strangle her until she was unconscious and raped her once.

After committing the crime, Elias Siampande of no fixed abode disappeared from the scene.

The girl later re-gained consciousness and walked home half naked as her skirt and panty were missing.

Siampande yesterday appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Sibongile Marondedze facing a rape charge.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to January 30.

Magistrate Marondedze ordered him to apply for bail at the High Court.

Prosecuting, Adelaide Chikweshe told the court that on December 27 last year at around 5 PM, the girl met Siampande at the eastern gate of Madlodlo Beer Garden in Makokoba while she was coming from home.

“Siampande asked the girl to help him carry his loaves of bread to his residence and she agreed,” said Chikweshe.

Instead of proceeding to his house, Siampande led the girl to a bushy area at West Park Cemetery and pushed the girl to the ground.
He allegedly raped her once and when she screamed, he choked her until she was unconscious.

“When the girl gained consciousness, she discovered that Siampande had disappeared. She searched for her skirt and her pants but could not find them,” said Chikweshe.

The complainant then wrapped herself with a jersey and walked home.

The court heard that along the way, the minor met one Sibongile Dube who accompanied her home to Makokoba suburb.

They then met the girl’s mother who was already looking for her and she narrated her ordeal and a report was made at Mzilikazi Police Station that same day.

On January 4 this year, the girl’s mother spotted Siampande in Lobengula at a bar and members of the public assisted her to apprehend him.

They dragged him to Mzilikazi Police Station.