| 2025/02/15 |
|
Media Statement
EASTERN CAPE – A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of raping a young woman in February 2024. The Mdantsane Regional Court handed down the sentence declaring the accused unfit to possess a firearm and ordering his name to be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders. The court heard that on February 3, 2024, at around 02:00, the victim was returning from a tavern with friends, who were escorting her to her boyfriend’s house. Upon arrival, she assured them she was safe, and they left. However, she soon discovered her boyfriend was not home and decided to walk back to her own residence. While on her way, she encountered the accused, Likho, a neighbor well known to her, along with two unknown men. They offered to escort her home, but instead, they grabbed her from behind, forced her to the ground, and took turns raping her. Before leaving, they warned her not to report the crime, saying she was “lucky” because others had been killed after being raped. The next day, the victim reported the attack to her parents and her boyfriend. Her father and boyfriend confronted Likho at his home and took him to the police station, where a case was opened, and he was detained. However, he never disclosed the identities of his two accomplices. Likho made his first court appearance on February 6, 2024. On February 14, 2024, he applied for bail, which was ultimately denied on March 14, 2024. Throughout the trial, he maintained his innocence, but the victim’s testimony and first report witness corroborated her version of events. Notably, the accused changed his version of events during the trial, further weakening his defense.
On February 12, 2025, the Mdantsane Regional Court found Likho guilty of rape. Given the brutal nature of the crime and the fact that he showed no remorse, the court imposed the maximum sentence life imprisonment.
Enquiries:
|
|
|
