Muchirahondo found guilty over 17 counts of rape and sexual assault

NEW ZEALAND – John Hope Muchirahondo, a 38-year-old Zimbabwean man, was found guilty of 17 counts of rape and sexual assault relating to nine different women in Christchurch, New Zealand.

04 Oct 2024, 10:15 · Nehanda Radio

Muchirahondo faced 21 charges of sexual violation by rape and nine of sexual violations by unlawful sexual connection, plus one charge of not providing access to a cellphone.

Muchirahondo was acquitted of eight other charges, and the jury was unable to reach a verdict on five others.

The offenses occurred between 2011 and 2021 in Christchurch and Auckland, involving 15 women. Muchirahondo preyed on victims who were drunk, drugged, or sleeping, and unable to consent.

His trial began in July, and the jury delivered its verdict after 10 days of deliberation.

Muchirahondo is set to be sentenced, with each rape charge carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years.

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The jury heard from 15 complaints. There were 31 charges, many of which were rape and sexual assault over a period of 12 years.

It has also been reported that Muchirahondo’s legal team asked the court to consider the cultural differences between Zimbabwe and New Zealand, citing that in Africa, women are often hard to find.

A recording of a police interview was presented in court, detailing one victim’s account of encountering Muchirahondo at a central Christchurch bar in 2020.

The victim stated that after consuming multiple drinks with Muchirahondo and others, she became severely intoxicated. She suspected that her drink may have been tampered with, implying potential drugging.

“I remember saying to him I need to go home and he said you’re too drunk to go home, he goes ‘we’ll go to my place’,” she said.

“I remember looking up at him and wondering what was happening and why we were having sex.”

“I knew something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t remember exactly what had happened. I was still under the influence of whatever I had been given the night before,” she said.