Nkosinathi Makanyandi, a Zimbabwean national who was charged with rape and assault, vehemently refuted the charges before Francistown Chief Magistrate Mokwadi Gabanagae, saying that he did not commit the crime. During cross examination, the Makanyandi pointed an accusing finger at prosecution and the complainant, saying that he never committed such offences and told court that he will bring in five witnesses before court to prove his innocence.
According to the charge sheet, the suspect on the 15 of January near Tonota in the Central District, allegedly confronted a 45-year-old woman who was in the company of her boyfriend and assaulted the woman and raped her.
Giving evidence during trial, a police detective said that on the 15 of January 2010, a woman came to their offices in Tonota Police Station, complaining that she had been assaulted and raped by Makanyandi.
The officer said that she then took the complainant to the Tonota clinic where a medical examination was conducted and then the complainant led her to the scene of the crime.
“When we arrived at the scene there was no other evidence apart from the fact that there were some struggle marks with footprints of the suspect,” she told court.
The detective further explained that Makanyandi had fled the scene and they had to track him down until they found him at his girlfriend’s place where he was arrested.
However another witness, a medical doctor, who examined the victim, indicated that there was not much evidence that the complainant was raped, but could not rule out the possibility of rape.
The case is yet to continue next year in February as the accused is yet to summon his witnesses before court.
