THE Kitwe Magistrate’s Court has put a 25-year-old man on his defence after finding him with a case to answer for allegedly indecently assaulting a girl.
In this case, Gideon Mwale is facing one count of indecent assault.
According to evidence before the court, Mwale on March 18, in Kitwe indecently assaulted a girl.
In his ruling, senior resident magistrate Daniel Musonda said he was satisfied with the evidence submitted by witnesses.
“After looking at evidence on record, I am satisfied that a prima facie case has been established against you and I therefore put you on your defence so that I can also hear the side of your story,” magistrate Musonda said.
When the court explained the three options Mwale had in defending himself, he told the court that he had two witnesses to call and that he would give sworn evidence.
During trial, Mable Mwale, 51, testified that on the material day around 09:00 hours, she was working in her field when she heard a voice of a girl calling for help.
She told the court that after a moment, she could no longer hear the screaming voice, so she decided to check the source of the sound.
On the side of her field, she found a girl who told her that a man she knew dragged her into the field, and tried to have sex with her but he failed.
Later, the matter was reported to police and the accused was apprehended and taken to the police were he was charged and arrested.
Magistrate Musonda has set July 13 for defence.
ZAMBIADAILYMAIL