A 35-YEAR-OLD Lusaka man has been convicted and committed to the High Court for sentencing for sexually abusing three girls aged between 9 and 13, and attempting to defile another.

Lusaka Magistrate Faides Hamaundu said in her judgement, Friday, that the medical examination confirmed that the three children were defiled on the same day, although the results for one of the affected girls did not confirm that she was defiled.

Joseph Winga was in this matter facing four charges of defilement of a child.

In count one, it was alleged that on July 3, 2020, Winga defiled a 13-year-old girl.

In count two, it was alleged that on the same date, Winga defiled another girl, aged 13.

In count three, it was alleged that Winga on the same date defiled a 10-year-old girl.

And in count four, it was alleged that on the same date, Winga defiled a girl, aged nine.

He pleaded not guilty, but was later placed on defence after he was found with a case to answer.

The Magistrate however reduced count one to attempted defilement on evidence grounds.

In her judgement, Magistrate Hamundu said it was a fact that Winga defiled the girls and that there was evidence against him even from the victims whose evidence matched with each other.

She said it was also a fact the medical examination done on the victims confirmed that they were defiled although the results for one of the victims did not confirm that she was defiled.

Magistrate Hamaundu convicted the accused, but reduced count one to attempted defilement.

She said since her court had no jurisdiction to sentence the convict, she would commit him to the High Court for sentencing.

Evidence in this matter is that on the material day, the children were taken to Winga’s house by a woman from the neighbourhoods who is a grandmother to one of the girls.

After the said woman left, Winga asked the girls to enter his house which they did, then he locked the door and allegedly defiled the children.

The victims told the court during trial that they were defiled one after the other in Winga’s bedroom while others were made to watch.

After an hour, Winga unlocked the door and released the girls.

But when the victims went to their homes, one of them complained of pain in her genitals and later revealed that Winga defiled her.

Later on, other victims also told their parents that Winga defiled them.

The matter was reported to the police and Winga was eventually arrested and taken to court.