09 Nov 2024

A case in which a man has been convicted of defiling his own daughter has been committed to the High Court for sentencing by the Broadhurst Magistrate Court. In commiting the matter, Magistrate Goratile Moremi-Ramakoloi indicated that the Magistrate Act only allowed her jurisdiction on sentences that attracted a maximum of 15 years, or where a minimum has been prescribed, a maximum of 20 years. Ms Moremi-Ramakoloi explained that she made a decision to commit the matter as she felt that the factors of the case warranted a stiffer sentence beyond her jurisdiction. Such factors, she said, included the fact that the victim was below 14 years, and that the perpetrator was her father. "I took into consideration your mitigation factors, such as you being a first offender and that you pleaded guilty and were remorseful. You also indicated that you did not use violence on your victim and that you have a chance to reform," she said. She, however, said that she was not convinced that all these justified departure from attracting a maximum possible sentence. Ends