By Kusekwa Kusekwa
The High Court at Moshi has upheld both the conviction and sentence for rape and life imprisonment imposed on Jerome Chuwa by the Resident Magistrate Court for having sexual intercourse with his step-daughter of 12 years after it dismissed his (Chuwa’s) appeal. During the hearing, Chuwa’s advocate, Mr Emmanuel Anthony, had argued that the prosecution was required to prove that his client lived with the victim, relentlessly pursued her and took her to his bedroom where he allegedly raped her on diverse dates from 2023 to July 2024.
“That said, I am of the strong opinion that the three grounds of appeal are devoid of merit. Consequently, I uphold the conviction and sentence imposed by the trial court against the appellant. Appeal dismissed,”
declared Judge Safina Simfukwe as she ruled against Chuwa. The judge further noted that according to
the evidence adduced in court, the victim was below 18 years old when her stepfather serially raped her. “With due respect to the learned counsel for the appellant, I uphold the reasoning of the learned trial magistrate. I do not see any doubt on the part of the prosecution,” the judge said.
