COURT SENTENCES MAN TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPING THREE SCHOOL KIDS
The Kimberley Regional Court has sentenced Jason Witbooi (29), to life imprisonment for raping three school-going children. The accused had previous convictions on three counts of rape in 2016, and two counts of housebreaking in 2018. On the day of the commissioning of the crime, the three minor complainants were on their way from school to their home when the accused offered to show them a shortcut through the veld.
The accused then proceeded to rape all three minor complainants. The complainants reported their ordeal and through vigorous police investigation, the accused was linked through DNA on all five counts, and when arrested he chose to plead guilty. He was remanded in custody until the finalisation of this matter.
During the aggravation of sentence, Prosecutor Nicola van Niekerk argued that the court should not deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life, as the accused had shown that he was a danger to society and that it would be in the best interest of the community if he was sentenced to life imprisonment. The court sentenced the accused to a life sentence on each count of rape, which will run concurrently.
The conviction and sentence confirm the commitment of the National Prosecuting Authority in the fight against Gender-Based Violence and to ensure that the citizenry particularly can continue to live in freedom and security within their communities.
