MITIGATION The accused has asked the court to temper the course of justice with mercy. He has pointed out to this court that he left behind a wife with a baby. According to the accused the health of his wife is not good. In addition to her poor health the accused's wife will be alone if her husband is sent to prison. The accused pointed out that the relations between himself and the members of his family are not what he feels comfortable to live his wife alone with them. Although the accused claims that his abuse of his brother's daughter is not the cause of the deterioration of the relations between members of his family, evidence on record at the trial, shows this court that the members of the family dealt cordially with great trust with each other. That trust is what this accused abused when he took the opportunity to sexually abuse the child every time he was in the same room or space with that child. The minor child's mother sent that chilled on errands at the accused's house. The accused came to the brother's house and stayed inside the house in the absence of the parents. Such was the parents' trust of the accused. I do not believe that the relations between the accused and some members of his family were anything but cordial, prior to his atrocious behaviour. It should be expected that the said minor child's parents and other relatives are very unhappy with the accused, as a direct result of his own very bad behaviour. The accused is sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment. K J. GUNI JUDGE