20 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPING A MINOR
11 SEPTEMBER 2024
The Kimberley Regional Court has sentenced Lesley Meintjies(24) to 20 years of direct imprisonment after he was convicted on two counts of rape. The accused who was 19-years-old when he committed the offence, is accused of raping a girl child who was 9-year-old at the time.
On 03 December 2019,
the victim’s mother and the accused where working together and because they had created a very comfortable trusting relationship, she sent him to make tea in her room. When he arrived in the room, he found the victim and instead of making tea as requested he proceeded to rape the victim (9) twice. The victim immediately reported the incident to her mother. The mother reported the matter to the police and the accused was arrested.
During the trial, Regional Court Prosecutor Nicola van Niekerk argued that the court should sentence the accused to maximum sentence for such an offence, as the accused had shown no remorse. That he betrayed the trust of not only the victim but also that of the mother. He took advantage of a vulnerable child when he should have been a trusted allie of the family. The court through a Victim Impact Statement, prepared with the assistance of the Court Preparation Officer Ms. Dineo Speak, heard how they rape had affected the child as well as the mother.
In sentencing the court found the accused guilty both counts and he was sentenced to
20 years direct imprisonment. The court also declared the accused unfit to process a firearm. The court ordered that his details be entered into National Register for Sex Offenders. He was also declared him unfit to work with children by the court.
The National Prosecuting Authority, continues to lead fight against perpetrators of Gender -Based Violence and Femicide by ensuring that the are successfully prosecuted and sentenced appropriately for their crimes.
