This archive report was first published on 13 October 2019.
On October 31, 2017, a Kakamega man, PMO, committed a heinous crime that would change the lives of a family forever. He defiled a four-year-old girl at their Lunza village, Butere sub-county, leaving her with physical and emotional scars.
According to the trial court, PMO lured the girl to his house, where he found her playing with her siblings. He then proceeded to commit indecent acts with her, including caressing her genitalia. The girl's sister later discovered her on the bed, naked and crying uncontrollably, and raised an alarm that attracted a crowd.
PMO was later arrested and charged with defiling the minor, as well as deliberately infecting her with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The prosecution presented strong evidence, including medical documents, which confirmed that the girl had been defiled and infected with HIV.
On October 13, 2019, Judge William Musyoka dismissed PMO's appeal, stating that the prosecution evidence was compelling and that the appellant's unsworn defence was of no probative value. The judge upheld the conviction and affirmed the sentence, sentencing PMO to life in prison.
PMO has 14 days to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
