Graca Machel's daughter loses assault case

After years of fighting to get justice in the case of the man who allegedly beat her and left her blind in one eye, the daughter of Graça Machel has expressed her disappointment after his conviction was overturned. Josina, who is the daughter of the late Mozambican President Samora Machel, said she was assaulted on Graça's birthday in 2015. The Star reports that Rufino Licuco was found guilty in the Maputo City Court in 2017 of domestic violence. He was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, suspended for five years on condition he pay her about R66m. However, he took the case to the Appeals Court which last week overturned the conviction because there were no witnesses. Machel said she felt let down by the justice system and described the ruling as 'a blow to the struggle by women against gender-based violence'. 'I presented irrefutable evidence (including a confession from Rofino Licuco) and testimony from recognised experts, who have gave their professional testament to the origin of my injury,' she added.