By SYLVIA MWEETWA and MILDRED KATONGO –

THE Kapiri Mposhi Magistrate’s Court has heard how a 38-year-old farmer repeatedly defiled his step-daughter and niece.
Magistrate Rita Maxwell has since reserved ruling in the matter after State prosecutor Chikankheni Mwanza closed his prosecution.
The man of Chilipamushi Village is appearing in court for two counts of defilement believed to have occurred between March 18 and 19 this year.
Arresting officer  Munalula Mangani testified  that  he  received  a  complaint stating that  the  man  was  sexually  abusing  the  children and  later  went  to  the area  to investigate  the matter.
Mr Mangani explained that he interviewed the two children aged  11 and  12 and  later  took them  to the  hospital  for medical  examination.
He said  that  the  examination  on the  two  children  by medical experts revealed  that  the  children  had been abused sexually and that he later arrested  and  charged the man.
He  told  magistrate  Maxwell that  the two  children were defiled  while  in custody of the  accused person and that the acts happened while  his wife was away.
Meanwhile, the Kitwe Magistrate’s Court has convicted a 27-year-old man of Zemics Farms for raping a 16-year-old girl.
Magistrate Ruth Kapulo convicted Amos Kasongo, a general worker at Zemics farms in Kitwe.
On January 11 this year, the girl went to collect mushroom with her friends at Zemics Farms when the convict pounced on her.
In this matter, the girl told the court that on the material day around 06:00 hours, Kasongo who was wearing a black boxer without a shirt pursued the girls while they were collecting mushroom.
Kasongo grabbed, chocked her before pulling and tearing her clothing to have sex with her.