Man who raped 76-year-old sentenced to 45 years in jail

27 February 2015 - 19:19 By Sapa
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An Mpumalanga man who threatened a 76-year-old woman with a toy gun before repeatedly raping her was sentenced to a total of 45 years in prison on Friday.

Leonard Dumisani Mlimi, 26, from Gutshwa near White River, was sentenced by the Nelspruit Regional Court, a Sapa correspondent reported.

He had pleaded not guilty to two charges of rape and three of armed robbery.

Passing sentencing, Magistrate Andre Geldenhuys said that on July 26, 2011, he attacked an old woman who was on her way to sell vetkoek at a school in Gutshwa village.

"The old woman, after you threatened her with the toy gun, believed it was real. It is clear enough that the old woman was scared to death."

Geldenhuys said Mlimi raped her, robbed her of her cellphone, R22, some vetkoek, and walked away.

Earlier that morning, Mlimi attacked a young woman. After threatening her with something that looked like a firearm, he robbed her of R120.

"Shortly after you raped the old lady, you went further and attacked another woman at a river. After you grabbed her handbag, she screamed and members of the community chased you and finally apprehended you. They started beating you up and if police had not saved you, they were going to beat you even more," Geldenhuys said.

After police took her to Themba hospital for treatment, another woman who worked at the hospital identified him as the one who robbed her with two other men on July 22.

"She was able to identify you, four days after you robbed her. You attacked only women which proves that you are a coward. You do not attack men," he said.

Mlimi showed no remorse, indicating he was a danger to society.

"Each and every day we read in newspapers and hear on radio on how rape and robberies affect the community, but people like you don't listen.

"You are sentenced to 15 years for the two counts of rape and 10 years each for each of the robberies of the three women," Geldenhuys said.

The sentences will run consecutively.

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