Man sentenced to life imprisonment for defilement

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for defiling a nine-year-old girl.

Wilson Ikocheli alias Willy was found guilty of two counts of defilement and committing an indecent act with a minor on December 19, 2020, at Masingo village in Kakamega Central.

While sentencing him, Senior Principal Magistrate Zacharia Nyakundi said that the accused was convicted of a very serious offense, and the mandatory sentence is prescribed in section 8(2) of the Sexual Offenses Act and the penalty.

Nyakundi noted that under section 8(2) of the Act, defilement of a child of 11 years and below attracts life imprisonment.

"I therefore proceed to sentence the accused person to life imprisonment in line with section 8(2) of the Sexual Offences Act number 3 of 2006. I have considered the nature of the offense, accused mitigation, and age of the victim," said the magistrate.

Prosecutor Stellah Adeny told the court that the accused pushed the minor into a ditch before defiling her.

"The minor was playing with her friends who left her on her own as she was still putting on shoes, and suddenly Ikolechi pushed her into a ditch, undressed her, and defiled her," said Adeny.

The prosecutor said the minor informed her mother about the incident, who immediately took her to the hospital and then reported matter to police.

"The minor also said she felt itchy, and it was confirmed by the doctor's assessment report, that the hymen was not intact and there were signs of penetration," she said.

The prosecution presented five witnesses who implicated the suspect.

The court said the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

In mitigation, Ikolechi prayed for the court's leniency and promised to reform.