Goodness and Mercy Ministries church leader Tapiwa Freddy who made headlines late last year after he was accused of raping and physically abusing his ex-girlfriend has pleaded not guilty to the charges when his trial opened at the Harare Magistrates Court on Thursday morning.
Tapiwa Freddy, popularly known as Prophet T Freddy, told the court that he had consensual s_exual intercourse with the woman in question.
He claims that the accusations arose after he sought to terminate their love relationship.
The Herald reports that the man of cloth also denied assaulting the woman at Moja Shopping Centre saying they never visited the place during the time they were in a relationship.
Regional magistrate Gloria Takundwa presided over the matter.
It is the State’s case that the victim claims that the Goodness and Mercy Ministries preacher forced himself on her on several occasions after her husband died.
She revealed that a couple of months after her husband died, Prophet T Freddy proposed love to her, but she declined as she was still mourning her husband.
However, on one particular occasion, Prophet T Freddy is alleged to have raped her after he asked to stay the night on the basis that it was late.
A local publication reports that on the said night, Freddy slept on Rutendo’s bed while she sat on a chair before he raped her moments later without using protection.
Prophet T Freddy is alleged to have repeated the visits to the victim’s place of residence and raped her each time.
After she filed the report, she was referred to Parirenyatwa Hospital for medical examination.-iharare
