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20 years in jail for raping businesswoman

by Lesotho Times
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High Court judge Justice Teboho Moiloa

High Court judge Justice Teboho Moiloa

Brian Chiwanza

Retšelisitsoe Kori Moseli (21) from Qalakheng was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Tuesday this week for raping a 54-year-old businesswoman three years ago.

The case was before High Court judge, Justice Teboho Moiloa,  who found Moseli guilty of raping the woman (name withheld to protect her identity) twice and stabbing her several times on 7 October 2012.

Moseli, who is HIV-positive, had been convicted by the Mohale’s Hoek Magistrate’s Court on 10 October 2012 and committed to the High Court for sentencing.

Moseli’s charge-sheet reads: “In that upon or about the 7th of October 2012 and or near Qalakheng 11 in the district of Mohale’s Hoek, the said accused did unlawfully and intentionally commit an unlawful sexual act with one ….a female aged 54 years.”

According to evidence moved in court, Moseli broke into the woman’s home while she was asleep, but woke up due to the noisy entry. The evidence further indicated the helpless woman called for help as Moseli advanced, but the intruder stabbed her several times while ordering the screaming to stop.

Moseli then raped the woman twice, before leaving with her cellphone.

Crown counsel Advocate Edwin Mosito told the court: “The crown proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is the perpetrator because on the night in question, the accused was the only person left by the forecourt of the complainant’s house. He was wearing a jacket later found to be bloody.

“He attempted to refute the evidence by stating that he bled from the nose. However, he failed to explain the blood on the knife.

“Yet that night, someone entered the complainant’s house, stabbed her many times with a knife and raped her.

“The accused also produced and handed a bloody knife to the police. The complainant’s stolen cell phone was also found hidden in the accused’s house.”

Advocate Kelebone Monate appeared on behalf of the accused, who was denied bail.

In his ruling, Justice Moiloa said he had considered both mitigating and aggravating factors presented by defence and crown counsel before delivering his verdict.

According to Justice Moiloa, prison would help rehabilitate Moseli.

 

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