THE Ulundi Regional Court recently sentenced Sibusiso Masondo to life imprisonment for the rape and assault of a 22-year-old woman in December, 2012.
Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal, Adv Elaine Zungu, welcomed the sentence.
Prosecutor Nompumelelo Mlambo led the testimonies of the complainant and arresting officer as well as forensic evidence directly linking Masondo to the crime.
Mlambo further submitted a victim impact statement compiled by the complainant and facilitated by the court preparation officer, Nokuvela Zulu.
In the statement the complainant said she went on to deliver the baby she was carrying, but the baby died owing to some abnormalities, which she blamed on the incident.
The incident took place in Nkandla where the four-month pregnant complainant alighted a taxi on her way to her boyfriend’s house.
She was accosted by Masondo while walking through a bushy area.
He dragged her into a valley and stabbed her in the neck with a blunt object and then raped her twice.
The complainant ran to her boyfriend’s house where she relayed the story, as well as Masondo’s description.
Someone at the homestead recognised Masondo from the description and led them to his home where he was positively identified by the complainant.
In court, the accused pleaded not guilty, saying the complainant had consented to their interaction, but this was rejected after evidence led by the prosecutor.
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