Man who raped while out on bail sentenced to life
The KwaMhlanga Regional Court sentenced 21-year-old Paris Mphela to life imprisonment for the rape of three women.
Mphela pleaded guilty to three counts of rape on July 2.
The court heard Mphela had committed the offences between June 2019 and November 2020 in KwaMhlanga. Mphela and another unknown perpetrator dragged one of the victims into the bush and took turns raping her.
Mphela was arrested for the first rape and released on bail.
He continued with his raping spree while out on bail.
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He attacked two other victims at their homes. One was dragged out of the yard, assaulted and raped. The other victim was raped more than once. One knew Mphela as they lived in the same neighbourhood.
She identified him by his gold tooth to the police and he was subsequently arrested. He was also linked to the rapes by DNA results.
The Regional Court prosecutor, Bianca Harmse, brought to the court’s attention the scourge of gender-based violence in society. She requested the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence.
The victim impact statements were also presented in court. They showed that all the victims suffered emotional and psychological trauma.
Mphela was sentenced to life imprisonment and declared unfit to possess a firearm.
