Barberton man sentenced to life in prison for raping neighbour
The Nelspruit Regional Court sentenced a man from Verulam in Barberton to life for raping his neighbour.
A 32-two-year-old man was recently convicted and sentenced by the Nelspruit Regional Court to life behind bars for raping his 39-year-old neighbour.
Mpumalanga’s National Prosecuting Authority’s spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, said the incident had occurred on the morning of September 3, 2017, after the victim had left a tavern to go home.
As the woman was unlocking her door, the accused appeared and pushed her inside. Nyuswa said the accused assaulted the victim with open hands and fists until she fell. He then began strangling her before he raped her and fled the scene on foot.
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The victim alerted other residents of the area and identified the man as her neighbour. She was taken to the local hospital for medical treatment.
“The accused was traced and arrested the following day. He denied the allegations levelled against him and pleaded not guilty,” said Nyuswa.
State prosecutor John Mahlwele led the evidence of the victim, a neighbour, and the police officer assigned to the case. The evidence was supported by a medical doctor, who examined the victim, as well as positive DNA results.
During the sentencing proceedings, the state handed in victim impact statements compiled by court preparation officers Nomfundo Mokoena and Zodwa Lekhuleni, in which the victim had detailed how the rape affected her. Then the court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment.
