HARARE – Hip-hop artist Holy Ten has challenged the State to set a trial date within two weeks or remove him from remand in a case in which he is accused of raping a 14-year-old girl.The musician, whose real name is Mukudzei Chitsama, made the application through his lawyer, Admire Rubaya, at the Harare Regional Magistrates Court.
The application followed a request by State representative Lawrence Gangarahwe to postpone the matter to allow detectives to finalise investigations.
Regional Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa heard that if the application is granted, Holy Ten would be removed from remand but could still be summoned to stand trial at a later date.
According to the State, the alleged incident occurred on July 20 at around 3pm after the complainant and a friend visited Avondale Shopping Centre, where the musician was recording music.
The teenager had reportedly been scheduled to feature in one of his music videos.
After her friend left, Holy Ten allegedly took the girl to a bed-and-breakfast establishment in Hatfield, where he was staying.
The State alleges that he locked her inside his room, threatened to kill her and raped her.
Following the alleged assault, the musician reportedly instructed an associate to book an InDrive taxi to transport the complainant back to Avondale Shopping Centre.
The teenager subsequently returned to her aunt’s home, where she lives, and initially claimed she had arrived late because she had been visiting a friend.
She later disclosed the alleged incident to her aunt, leading to a formal police report and the musician’s arrest.
Four suspected accomplices linked to the case are still at large.
