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Patience Mutsiwi, Midlands’ Reporter
A SUICIDE note from a Form One pupil, written after she became fed up with being sexually abused by her 21-year-old neighbour, led to the sex pest’s arrest.

Aaron Urayai, of Mkoba 7 in Gweru, pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape before Gweru magistrate Morgan Nemadire.

Nemadire found him guilty, however, and sentenced him to nine years in prison. Three months of that sentence were conditionally suspended.

In his defence, Urayai told the court that he only associated with the teenage girl as his neighbour.

“l didn’t rape her. On the day in question, she only visited me at home asking for discs and l gave her. She just fabricated the story,” he said.

In passing sentence, Nemadire said he was taking the three rape counts as one in the hope that the accused will be released early and reformed.

Andrew Marimo, prosecuting, told the court that on a date unknown to him but between September and October last year, Urayai first raped the teenager at his home when she had gone to ask for a music CD.

Urayai, the court heard, threatened to kill his victim if she reported the abuse.

On the second count, during the same period, Urayai visited the pupil and found her lying on a sofa. He raped her a second time.

The court heard that on the third count, Urayai called the victim to his house when his wife was not around and raped her before threatening to kill her if she told her parents.

On October 22 last year, the victim wrote two letters, one to her friend and a second to her parents saying that she was going to commit suicide since Urayai had destroyed her life.

Her parents saved her before she could kill herself and police were called.