24 Feb 2014

Kanye's Principal Magistrate Janet Phosa has convicted Onneile Raleru for a single count of rape.

Facts of the case were that on March 28, 2011 at Matshidiso lands near Motlhalaakgomo in the Southern District, the accused dragged the complainant to a nearby bush and forced himself on her after which he walked with her for a couple of metres before raping her again. 

The accused slapped the complainant before raping her and was said to have threatened to stab her with a knife if she screamed.

In self-defense, the accused denied that he was at Matshidiso lands at the time of the incident. The fifth witness for the state testified through a medical report from Kanye Seventh Day Adventist Hospital that indeed forced sexual intercourse took place on that day and the police witness admitted to receiving the report on that day. 

Principal Magistrate Phosa said the accused’s self-defense should have been introduced at the initial stage of the investigations, but the accused was only stating his alibi as an afterthought. 

The matter was postponed to today, February 24, for mitigation and sentencing. If found guilty, the accused will serve a minimum of 10 years behind bars. Ends