Rapist denied appeal

Sharon Mathala | Friday March 7, 2014 11:48

Justice Monametsi Gaongalelwe said when delivering judgment recently that prison terms are directed to run concurrently where the same set of offences are linked in terms of time, place or some other circumstance.

 

Patelelo is serving a prison term for five counts of rape, two counts of robbery and two counts of unlawful wounding, murder and robbery, which were committed a year apart.

 

'Such is not the case here.  Concurrency of sentences may also be directed where the cumulative effect of consecutive sentences would undoubtedly result in the accused persons being imprison for excessively lengthy periods, which would be appropriate for the offences concerned,' said Gaongalelwe.

 

The court heard that the first count of rape and the second count of robbery were of a woman in Thomadithotse Ward in Palapye. He then later earned himself another charge of unlawful wounding, the court learnt.

 

The woman was sexually assaulted and robbed of cash while she was walking home from her church, Abundant Life Ministries. Patelelo accompanied the victim at knifepoint to her place where he further stabbed her boyfriend.

 

Patelelo is said to have on the same night walked to the other side of the village where he met another woman he robbed and raped.  The court learnt that he committed the offences on October 5, 2006.

 

In the previous year it is said Patelelo on June 1 committed other offences of murder and robbery.  The sentences of the offences were 11 years imprisonment for murder and nine years for robbery, which were to run concurrently.

 

He was then sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for each of the two rape convictions, 10 years for each of the robbery convictions as well as three years imprisonment for unlawful wounding.  The sentences were to run concurrently to each other, but consecutive to the one that he was already serving.

 

'In my view it would be ridiculous if it was to be ruled that the sentences should run concurrently, a man like you should be kept out of the society for some time,” Gaongalelwe said in his ruling.