- Maruma accused of raping a 22-year-old says it was by consent
A ZIMBABWE national cricket team player, Timysen Maruma, who is facing one count of rape has pleaded not guilty to the charge, arguing the sexual intercourse was by consent.
Maruma appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts on charges of raping a 22-year-old woman.
According to the State, the rape happened on December 29, last year with the alleged victim of Maruma’s sexual exploits being a 22-year-old woman.
Maruma, however,pleaded not guilty to the charge.
He, however, admitted that the said improper sexual conduct was done and concluded in a Honda Fit vehicle, about 40 metres away from the complainant’s home in Highfield, Harare.
According to Maruma’s lawyers, the two met at Gunners Night Club in Highfields.
Accused was reportedly in the company of Roy Kahiya, while the complainant was with her friend, Charlene Karadzandima.
Maruma reportedly told Karadzandima that he was interested in having an intimate relationship with complainant.
Maruma and the complainant are said to have first gotten intimate on the dance floor.
At around 3am, Maruma is said to have left with complainant in his car and Karadzandima in her boyfriend’s car for a funeral Karadzandima was supposed to attend.
Maruma said they stayed for about 30 minutes at the funeral before the accused told complainant that he was leaving.
Complainant allegedly told the accused that she wanted to leave as well.
The complainant is said to have asked the accused to drop Kahiya first and then her afterwards.
Maruma claimed they then had consensual sexual intercourse four or five houses away from the complainant’s home in Highfield.
The accused also defended himself, saying if it was rape, the complainant would easily have raised an alarm as the alleged rape had happened in a high density suburb.
The defence also stated that the complainant only reported the matter as rape after she saw the accused – at another time – dropping off her sister and got jealous.
Accused said he and complainant had, since the occasion, been in touch, adding he had a call history and text messages to prove it.
Maruma is out of police custody and is set to appear again in court on March 24.
