26 April 2010, 07:25
By Hanti Otto
Court Reporter
A man who repeatedly raped an 18-year-old virgin has been sentenced to life behind bars.
Jerry Rafahlema, 30, of Mamelodi West, raped the girl four times on January 31, 2009, while telling her, in tears, that her body reminded him of that of his mother.
Rafahlema was sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday after the Pretoria Magistrate's Court found him guilty on four charges of rape, one of kidnapping, and theft of R10.
He pleaded not guilty, claiming he and the teenager had consensual sex.
The complainant told the court that she had never met Rafahlema before and was new to the area.
The accused claimed to have a knife, although she never saw it.
The girl was strangled and bitten while Rafahlema raped her.
She recalled that when he finished, he asked her for forgiveness, then told her to dress and forced her to go to his house. His mother was there, so the girl had to pretend she was his girlfriend. The other three rapes happened in his room.
During arguments, defence lawyer Dirk Human said the accused was a first offender and had been in custody for 11 months. He has a child and did odd jobs.
Magistrate Solomon Mkhabela said the incident had a "very grave and negative" effect on the girl.
The girl was severely injured.
What was very sad, the magistrate added, was the fact that the girl lost her virginity during this attack.
"It is clear this incident will leave a scar for the rest of the complainant's life.
"I must sentence you for each and every penetration, trauma and pain you caused," Mkhabela said as he handed down the life sentence.
This article was originally published on page 4 of The Pretoria News on April 26, 2010
The Star
Comments by Sonny
This "Ape" deserved the Death Penalty!!
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