Child rapist, murderer sentenced to death
Lebogang Mosikare | Monday August 28, 2023 06:00
In addition, Koolopile Makhura was sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping Bame Tebelelo, 14. Makhura committed the offences on September 23, 2019 in Shashemooke.
When delivering the ruling on whether there were extenuating circumstances that warranted the court to pass any sentence other than the death penalty, Justice Lot Moroka yesterday said he came to the conclusion that Makhura’s actions on that fateful day were well calculated.
Furthermore, Moroka said that it is clear that Makhura’s actions were motivated by the fact that he could not fathom the fact that Bame’s mother, Chenesani Tebelelo, wanted to end her love relationship with Makhura.
Moroka also said he carefully came to the conclusion that the accused’s claim that he had drunk copious amounts of alcohol in addition to smoking a lot of dagga when the offences were committed have absolutely nothing to do with his actions. “The accused did not mention anywhere in his confession statement before a judicial officer that he had consumed a lot of alcohol and dagga.
His actions bear the hallmarks of someone who had full control of his mental faculties. In his confession statement, the accused stated that after he raped the deceased, he became afraid and thereafter hid the deceased’s body under a tree. After realising that people may find the body of the deceased, he returned and took the body to a disused mud hut and then hid it under the mattress.
“His deeds were well calculated to hide his tracks. I have come to the conclusion that the accused’s claim that he was intoxicated by alcohol and dagga is an afterthought. I therefore reject the story of intoxication. Also, there is no tangible evidence to support the accused’s claim that he was intoxicated and therefore, I find that there are no extenuating circumstances in this matter exist.
The accused is sentenced to 20 years in jail for the offence of rape and he shall also hang by the neck until he dies for the offence of murder,” Moroka concluded. After Makhura was sentenced, Chenesani and her brother, Bonani Kobee, welcomed the sentence saying that it will bring the family closure even though they were conscious of the fact that it will not restore Bame’s life.