A 48-year-old man was on Tuesday handed life imprisonment for defiling a 9-year-old girl.
Mombasa Principal Magistrate, Martin Rabera ruled that the prosecution had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused defiled the minor.
The Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions said the prosecution led by Barbara Sombo had opposed the application by the defense for a non-custodial sentence, citing the physical and psychological trauma suffered by the minor, who is still undergoing counselling.
“The court found it necessary to impose severe penalties on sex offenders in order to deter future offenders from committing similar crimes in the future,” Mombasa ODPP said.
The ruling comes a day after a Wajir court sentenced a 26 years old man to life imprisonment for defiling a 7-year-old girl.
The convict is said to have committed the act in Wajir County on September 29, 2022.
Principal Magistrate Roselyn Aganyo ruled that the prosecution had proved the case against Barris Billow beyond a reasonable doubt.
Aganyo pointed out that the court takes judicial notice of the prevailing cases of defilement, thus the need to accord the accused a custodial sentence.
“The accused was a danger to the community, and a harsher sentence would keep him from the society”, the court ruled.
