Man guilty of defiling girlfriend's teen daughter
Sharon Mathala | Wednesday February 25, 2026 06:10
The incident took place back in March 2025, at the couple’s home in Mogoditshane. He had pleaded not guilty. The background of the matter is that the man had been in a relationship with the victim’s mother for three years before the incident.
On the day, the state led evidence that the couple, the victim’s mother and the accused were relaxing under a tree whilst the teen played by the doorstep of their house. The accused momentarily went inside the house, then asked the victim to fetch water for him. When she brought the water to him inside the couple's bedroom, it is alleged that he grabbed her by the hand and placed her on the bed.
As she tried to scream, he covered her mouth and proceeded to sexually violate her on her mother’s bed. The victim's mother then walked in during the gruesome act.
“She immediately confronted him and asked if he was having sexual intercourse with the child. He jumped ... and began searching for his shoes. However, he did not respond to her question,” reads the judgment in part.
It is said she then beat the man with a broomstick and went to report the matter to the police.
Early in the morning, around 3 am, he returned to their rented room and pleaded for forgiveness.
'She told him she could not forgive him as he had violated her daughter. He left immediately and returned the following day. She called the police to report his presence, but they did not respond,” court documents further read.
After a few days, word had already spread around Mogoditshane and the man was eventually arrested by members of the public who took him to the police. During the trial, the accused denied this version of events.
He claimed he had gone out for alcohol when he was informed by a friend that he was wanted for rape. He told the court that he stayed at his friend’s house until he was arrested.
In the end, the magistrate ruled, “the complainant testified that she was raped under the cover of loud music, which their neighbours played in the adjacent room. During the alleged rape, the accused had also covered her mouth. It is my observation that the accused was calculating, as he knew that PW3 (the victim’s mother) would not hear PW2 (the victim) screaming for help under the cover of loud music. He lured her back into the house by asking her to fetch water for him. There is no doubt that sexual intercourse was had with her under compulsion,” the judgment reads.
The magistrate further believed that the accused, during his defence, failed to explain where he was during the time of the offence, nor did he even deny claims made by his then-girlfriend. In the end, he was found guilty of rape simpliciter, contrary to Section 141 as read with Section 142 (1) (ii) of the Penal Code (Cap 08:01) under the Laws of Botswana.