MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE AND 28 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A MINOR
The Kwaggafontein Regional Court convicted and sentenced a 46-year-old man from Verena to life imprisonment for rape and attempted murder of a minor girl (14). In February 2021, two minor victims, a boy and a girl were on their way home, when the accused emerged and approached them from behind wearing a balaclava. He threatened them with an object resembling a firearm and robbed them of a cellphone, cash coins and an audio speaker.
He dragged the victims to the back of a nearby church and instructed them to have sexual intercourse with each other, which they refused to do. He then assaulted the male victim and raped a minor girl in front of her friend. The victims sustained injuries and bruises on the knees. The victims did not know the perpetrator was linked to the offence of rape through DNA taken in an unrelated case. It was further established that the perpetrator was on HIV treatment when he committed the offence.
In court, the accused did not give any plea explanation, Prosecutor Nicki Coetzee, led testimonies of the rape victim who testified using the services of the intermediary. Medical reports in respect of both victims which proved that the victims sustained injuries and bruises on their knees were handed in. Prosecutor Coetzee further presented the accused’s HIV status report, proving that he knew his status when he committed the offence.
The court found the accused guilty of pointing out anything resembling a firearm, assault, robbery with aggravating circumstances, compelled sexual assault, rape and attempted murder due to his HIV status. He was sentenced to life and 28 years imprisonment . The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, the effective sentence being life imprisonment. The court ordered the accused’s name to be entered in the Sexual Offenders Register, he was declared unfit to possess a firearm and unsuitable to work with children.
The National Prosecuting Authority commends the work of the prosecution and the police in contributing to this successful prosecution. The NPA condemns violence against women and children.
