Man pleads not guilty to defilement

Lebogang Baingapi | Tuesday June 9, 2015 15:26

Koto told magistrate Basetsana Keakantse that he met the 15-year-old student when he was a DJ at a Christmas Day party held at a bar in 2013.

“I proposed to the young lady and she agreed. Her curvaceous body tempted me, especially as she appeared much older.

“I also never believed that the bar would allow minors,” he said, explaining his reasoning.

The accused, who was 22-years old at the time of the offence, said that he used to call the minor on her mother’s phone but later loaned her his phone for better communication, as he worked at the farms some kilometers away from the village. Koto, who confirmed that he had carnal knowledge of the minor said that the complainant’s mother followed her steps to his house, where she complained to his uncles that her minor child was having a relationship with Koto.

“My uncle took me to their home and all our parents met about the issue. The girl and I admitted that we had had a sexual relationship and agreed to end it. “Sometime later, I was surprised to be summoned by investigating officer, Lesedi Merule, who asked me to report to Khakhea Police post, where I found the minor and her mother claiming that I had impregnated her daughter.

“I took responsibility for the pregnancy and the child after birth.

“I also took care of the baby when the girl returned to school. To date, I still help with raising our child,” he said.

He added that he did not understand why he had been dragged before court as he believed the matter was water under the bridge as he takes care of the child and its mother.

Koto will appear in court again on June 12, 2015.