LUSAKA Magistrate Kenneth Mulife has issued a bench warrant for a defilement victim for not appearing in court to testify against a Lusaka journalist Francis Maingaila who allegedly defiled her.

Mr Mulife ordered for the victim's arrest after the State applied for a bench warrant for the arrest of the key witness in the case to enable her testify against the accused.

Maingaila, 37, pleaded not guilty on one count of defilement contrary to section 148 sub section one of the Constitution of Zambia.

He is alleged to have defiled a girl under the age of 16 on July 30 this year. He is being represented by two Lusaka lawyers from the Legal Aid Board.

The arresting officer, detective sergeant Mathew Kamele, 36, based at Lusaka Central Police Station under the Victim Support Unit testified that the victim in the matter was taken to his office and made allegations of defilement against the accused person.

He said during interrogations, the victim said she had no fixed abode and was immediately taken to Jesus Care Ministries in Lusaka's Mutendere Township where she received counseling but ran away.

"The victim had been running away from the centre each time she was sent there and at some point, she was spotted by a bishop in Lilanda who called the police to arrest her and ensure she is taken back to the centre but she kept on running away," he said.

Detective Kamele said when she was found for the third time, he asked her and she said she was staying in Kanyama with friends.

He demanded to know whom she was staying with after investigations, it was established that she was staying with a male friend.

The matter was adjourned to November 4 for continued trial.