Thabo Masilo: chronology of events
Mpho Mokwape | Friday January 9, 2015 16:25
He was convicted and found guilty of robbery and indecent assault.
But the lengthy trial that had its graphic content detailed in court was just a tip of the iceberg regarding Masilo and some of the offences he is yet to stand trial for.
Many will remember that Masilo came into the media spotlight in 2012 when a form five student at St.Josephs College was brutal murdered.
The 18-year-old victim had just finished her Form Five final examinations and was viewed as a bright student looking ahead to a bright future.
With the media and the general public in a frenzy, the assailant was identified as none other than Masilo.
He was caught falling from the ceiling at the victim’s home, apparently just after the gruesome act.
With this picture circulating widely on social media, many people got the chance to see him at the scene of crime.
As more accusations came, it seemed as if what was at stake was more than had initially been imagined; there was robbery, sex offences and to top it all, murder.
Many people, especially women could positively identify the young man who had robbed and sexually assaulted them, and more charges were laid against him.
With the murder of an innocent student and the nature of Masilo’s behaviour vividly splashed in every media outlet, many people felt it was time for justice to take its course.
With the level of interest of the case at its peak, public attendance at Masilo’s first appearance in court was huge.
The outrage of the people was at another level and it seemed as if the police force would have a hard time controlling the crowd every time Masilo’s name was mentioned.
After numerous court appearances with the crowd still filling up court, he was on February 21, 2013 denied bail for robbery and rape.
By that time also, the murder case was gaining momentum and people couldn’t wait for him to be tried.
Little did they know that the wheel of justice was slow, and it would take years for him to be tried.
When he was finally committed on May 2, 2013, by Village Chief Magistrate, Lenah Oahile-Mokibe to the High Court, few people were now trickling into the courtroom.
Furthermore on April 29, 2014 when High Judge Lot Moroka denied him bail, fewer people could be seen in attendance.
It was a clear indication that people were either tired or just waiting for him to be tried.
Despite a handful of people in attendance, he was denied bail because the prosecution argued that members of the community were still angry and could kill Masilo if he was granted bail.
Many, it would appear, were losing patience due to the delay by the justice system, but one could go on social media and see people ranting and cursing.
The lengthy trial for robbery and indecent assault he was convicted of on Wednesday was no different as only the media were present in the gallery.
It still remains to be seen if the murder trial that is expected to start in May 2015 will attract a crowd like the first time he was arrested and arraigned in court.
Meanwhile Masilo. who had other charges withdrawn, including two counts of indecent assault and stealing from a dwelling place in 2013, still had other cases to answer, including the one on today’s sentencing and looming murder trial.
However he can thank his lucky stars because though he was charged with rape, on Wednesday during judgment delivery, the Magistrate could only convict him on charges on indecent assault.
The magistrate’s reasoning was that the prosecution had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he indeed raped the victim.
In between that period, many would know that Masilo still has allegations that he sexually abused and robbed three women during the space of a month, subsequently leading to one murder.