Man handed 20-year jail term for defiling 12-year-old girl

A 52-year-old suspected paedophile has been sentenced to 20 years behind bars for defiling a 12-year-old girl in Taita Taveta.

Evans Manochi Metioni initially denied the charges before Taveta Principal Magistrate Eugene Kadima but was convicted after the prosecution brought five witnesses, including the girl, to testify against him, proving beyond doubt that he was culpable of the offence.

Metioni reportedly committed the offence on diverse dates between September 2 and September 15, 2023, at Challa village in Taveta Sub-County.

"In his submission, prosecution counsel pleaded with the court for stiffer punishment, saying that the accused person knew the victim as his neighbour and took advantage of her," the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said in an X statement.

"The Court noted the evidence of minor and ruled that the accused manipulated the victim with money to satisfy his twisted desires, leading to multiple instances of sexual abuse."

In an attempt to lessen his sentence, the defendant, who faces three additional pending defilement charges in the same court, appealed for leniency, emphasizing his role as a family provider and his desire to support his wife and children.

Upon delivering the judgment, Kadima acknowledged the testimonies of the witnesses, which highlighted crucial legal aspects of the defilement case.

Additionally, Kadima underscored the severity of the crime and its profound impact on the child both psychologically and physically.