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Fairness Moyana Hwange Correspondent
A 17-YEAR-OLD from Victoria Falls who raped three girls aged between 3 and 5 years, leaving them unable to walk properly, has escaped jail. The juvenile took advantage of his grandmother’s absence to abuse the children. A magistrate ruled that the boy was temporarily insane when he sexually attacked the toddlers. The juvenile — who cannot be named to protect victims — from BH 9 under Chief Mvuthu in Jambezi is in Grade Seven.

Regional magistrate, Mr Dambudzo Malunga, heard that one of the victims is the boy’s cousin. Mr Malunga committed the teen to a mental institution.

“With the evidence of the accused’s state of mind following a psychiatric evaluation showing that he was not of sound mind when he committed these offences this court is left with no choice but to commit him to Ingutsheni Mental Institution as provided for by section 29 of the Mental Health Act,” said Mr Malunga.

Mr Tawanda Sigauke, the prosecutor, said on July 13 this year, the boy who lives with his grandmother was left in custody of the children at about 6:30AM. The granny went to town to run an errand.

“As they slept in the same room but in different blankets, the accused left his blankets. “He removed his 5-year-old cousin’s underwear before raping her once. He did the same to the other girls, one aged 3 and the other 5 years,” said Mr Sigauke.

The matter, he said, came to light the following day when one of the girls’ mother noticed they could hardly walk and were experiencing pain while urinating. “After examining them she noticed that they had been abused and upon quizzing them they revealed what accused had done to them. A report was made to police leading to his arrest,” said the prosecutor.