Man accused of raping his two stepdaughters sentenced to life imprisonment
The accused raped the victims between 2013 and 2014 when they were nine and 10-years-old during the time.
Last week, a 50 year-old man was given two life sentences at the Nelspruit Regional Court after he was convicted of raping his two stepdaughters in Ngodwana.
The accused who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victims would rape the victims and threaten them not to report the abuse to anyone. The matter was reported to the police after the victims were interviewed and an arrest was made.
During trial, the accused pleaded not guilty but the state prosecutor, Thulani Msibi led testimonies of the victims who told the court that the accused used to rape them on separate occasions.
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Msibi further led evidence of a medical doctor who examined the victims which confirmed the version of the victims and the accused was found guilty after the court rejected his version.
The state asked the court to impose a harsh sentence as the accused was in a position of trust and was supposed to protect the victims. The presiding officer found no reason to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence and the accused was sentenced to life imprisonment on each count of rape and his name was entered into the Sexual Offences Register.
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