THE Kabwe High Court yesterday sentenced an 18-year-old school boy to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour for raping a 19 -year-old woman while his co-accused walked to freedom after he was acquitted for lack of evidence.

Ms Justice Elita Mwikisa said she was aware that the convict was a juvenile offender but that the crime committed was serious.

The judge said the 15 years slapped on teenager was meant to send a warning to perpetrators of violent crime, particularly rape.

The juvenile offender and his co accused both of Kapiri Mposhi were jointly charged with rape, which occurred on October 21, last year.

During trial the woman testified that on the fateful night around 22:00 hours she was in a company of her sister and three others when the juvenile in the company of other attacked her.

Her sister and other people managed to run away, but she failed to elude her assailants after they hit with a stick on back of her head.

She narrated that the boy and his friend took turns in raping until she lost consciousness and was shocked to wake up around 04:45 hours in a hospital.

Another witness Victor Kashito narrated that she found the now convicted on the scene while the victim was lying on the ground half naked.

Upon seeing him, the boy attempted to run away but he managed to apprehend him. One boy managed to run away.

The boy later led the police to the house of his friend who was alleged to have been with him at the time the crime was committed.

The two juveniles were found with a case to answer and put to on their defence.

However, the court acquitted the other boy who had maintained his innocence and that he was picked up by police from home and not at the scene.