State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Shadreck Wisiki told the court that the convict, Kiyason Sayenda, committed the offence between 2012 and June, 2020.

Sub Inspector Wisiki said the girl is the step daughter to the convict.

"The ordeal was discovered since the girl was impregnated," said Wisiki.

Sayenda pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement, a development which prompted the state to parade two witnesses.

In his mitigation, the convict asked for lenient sentence since, claiming that he is the first offender and has a family to take care of.

Sub Inspector Wisiki prayed for a stiff sentence to set a lesson to the offender and deter other would-be offenders, saying defilement cases are on the increase in the district.

Passing the sentence, First Grade Magistrate Damson Banda concurred with the state and punished him with the custodial sentence.

Kiyason Sayenda hails from Mukhula village, T/A Mkhumba in Phalombe district.