Ermelo court sentenced man who raped his 12-year-old nephew to life imprisonment – LNN

Ermelo District Court recently found a 26-year-old man guilty of raping his 12-year-old nephew and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

He pleaded guilty and was later convicted of rape.

According to National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, in May last year the accused visited his sister in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, where he lived with the victim.

“He went out with his friends late at night and came back drunk. He slept in the kitchen where his two nephews slept and began touching, undressing and raping the victim.

“The incident was reported to the police and the victim was taken to Ermelo Thuthuzela Care Center for medical attention and psychosocial support. “The defendant pleaded guilty and acknowledged that his action was wrong,” he said.

In an attempt to increase the sentence, State Attorney Chané Rothman submitted a victim impact statement prepared by court preparation officer Faith Masango, in which the victim expressed regret and shame for what happened to her. He said that he no longer feels comfortable playing with other children because they say bad things to him.

“Rothman highlighted the devastating impact this had on the young victim, stating that the victim’s trust had been betrayed by someone who was supposed to protect him. “Instead, he took advantage of her innocence and subjected her to horrific sexual violence.”

Judge Eben Jonker stated that the prisoner had robbed the victim of his childhood and found no substantial and compelling reason to justify deviation from the prescribed sentence.

The court sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment and ruled that he was unfit to possess a firearm and unfit to work with children. He also ordered his name to be placed on the National Sex Offender Registry.