Appeal Lands Rape Convict In Deeper Trouble

Ofentse was looking to overturn his conviction of rape of his neighbour that he committed on June 2, 2012 that was meted out by a Mahalapye Magistrate.

Before Ofentse committed the offence, he broke into his neighbour’s home through a window, stealing her mobile phone and groceries after he violently raped her in front of her four children who had been sleeping in the same room. Amongst other reasons of his grounds of appeal, Ofentse told Justice Matlhogonolo Phuthego that the sentence he was given by the lower court was excessive since it exceeded the minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years.Ofentse also said the magistrate erred in not taking into account that the DNA evidence that was extracted from him and the complainant did not link him to the rape.