LENGTHY SENTENCE FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ASSAULT OF FORMER LOVER AND CHILD
The Regional Court in Kuruman convicted and sentenced Letlhgonolo Sejake(50), to 15 years imprisonment for attempted murder, read with the provisions of Section 51(1) due to the parties having had a domestic relationship. The court ordered those 5 years of the 15 years to be wholly suspended with conditions. The accused was further sentenced to 6 years on a second count of assault with the intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH). The sentences are to run concurrently. On 02 December 2023, the accused went to his ex-girlfriend’s house with whom he has 2 children. When he arrived at his former lover’s home fuelled by the rage of jealousy that she had moved on, started to attack her with an axe. While attacking the victim, their six-year-old son was also injured in the process.
During the trial, the court heard how the accused who could not accept that their relationship was over, went on a drinking spree and he later decided to detour to the complainants’ house because he heard she had a new boyfriend. In arguing the state’s case Regional Court Prosecutor Kekeletso Lokota put it to the court, that domestic-related assaults leading to loss of life were rife and a clear message needed to be sent to perpetrators of GBVF that courts we serious about fighting the scourge of GBVF related cases. The accused was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with 5 years suspended and 6 years for assault GBH. The accused was also declared unfit to possess a fire. His name will also be listed as someone unfit to work with children in terms of the Children’s Act.
