Rapist handed a life sentence and 11 years for brutal rape of teenager
|Published
The 34-year-old accused held the 16-year-old girl, in the Ngwagwane area in March 2016, against her will and raped her for an entire weekend. File Picture
DURBAN - A 34-year-old man was sentenced to life and 11 years’ imprisonment last week for the rape of a 16-year-old girl in the Ngwagwane area in March 2016.
The suspect was sentenced in the uMzimkhulu Regional Court after he was also convicted of assault, kidnapping and sexual assault.
According to the National Prosecutor Agency regional spokesperson, Natasha Kara, the man was in a relationship with the victim’s friend.
At some point, said Kara, his house was broken into, and he suspected his girlfriend of the break-in.
She said the man went to her house to confront her but discovered that she was not there. However, the victim was there instead.
“He confronted the victim about the housebreaking, and her denials angered him as he believed that she and his girlfriend were responsible. He then forcibly took the victim to his house where he assaulted her with a stick, hoping she would confess to the break-in,” said Kara.
Furthermore, the man kept the victim against her will for the entire weekend, raping her throughout, explained Kara.
She said the man eventually released her the Monday, and the victim reported the incident to the police.
Kara said after evading authorities, the man was eventually apprehended on a warrant of arrest.
In court, the victim testified via an intermediary and through the CCTV camera system, she said.
“In her testimony, led by the Regional Court Prosecutor, Sipho Nkonzo, she indicated that she is afraid of men and that there is a trust issue that she has developed towards them.”
Kara said even though she was the only witness, the court found her testimony to be consistent, thus securing the conviction.
She added that the suspect was given a life sentence for rape, five years imprisonment for kidnapping, a fine of R5 000 or three years imprisonment for sexual assault and a fine of R3 000 or three years imprisonment for assault.
“The court also ordered that his name must be entered into the national register for sexual offenders,” added Kara.
THE MERCURY