A BEITBRIDGE couple has appeared in court accused of connivance in the rape of a minor.
The girl’s biological father allegedly raped her on numerous occasions and the wife reportedly concealed the crime and even purportedly assisted to terminate the child’s pregnancy.
The man, a 53-year-old cross-border transporter, pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before regional magistrate Innocent Bepura.
He had, however, admitted to raping his daughter in a statement to the police.
He was remanded to December 20.
The wife, a well-known hairdresser in Beitbridge town, also altered her plea to not guilty when she separately appeared before provincial magistrate Vavariro Gavi.
The couple was remanded in custody.
It is alleged that the man, on numerous occasions dating back to 2020, raped his daughter since she was 13-years-old.
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The court heard that the man allegedly pretended to assist her with homework, but raped her in what was suspected to be a ritual activity when her siblings and mother retired for bed.
According to State papers, the wife caught him and he apologised and promised not to do it again. He, however, allegedly continued raping the girl from October last year to September this year, leading to her falling pregnant.
The family allegedly agreed to terminate the pregnancy.
The issue was reportedly leaked to two church elders who reported to the police. The police arrived soon after the mother had forced her to take tablets to cause abortion. She was referred to hospital where the abortion was confirmed.
The State is expected to call several witnesses, while two medical affidavits and a sachet of the tablets the father bought for abortion will be presented as exhibits.
