Serial rapist jailed for 57 years
Windhoek serial rapist Gavin Gawanab (31) will only be eligible for release at the age of 88, after a Windhoek High Court judge sentenced him to an effective 57 years behind bars yesterday for a string of violent attacks committed against women and underage girls.
Gawanab faced 23 counts ranging from rape and attempted rape to attempted murder, kidnapping, housebreaking with intent to rape, indecent assault, crimen injuria and various forms of assault. He was convicted on 14 of the charges.
His crime spree began in December 2012 and continued until his arrest in October 2018, when he attacked a nine-year-old girl. At the time, he was already out on bail on earlier charges.
Delivering judgment, High Court Judge Dinnah Usiku said the sentence should serve as a stern warning.
“Looking at the avalanche of crimes Gawanab committed, the accused must be removed from society for a considerable period of time,” she said. “No one is safe, and the court cannot see how anyone can be safe with him roaming freely.”
Predator
Court records show that Gawanab committed multiple rapes between 2012 and 2018 in Windhoek and its surroundings. In one case, he sexually assaulted his sister’s minor child in September 2015. In another, a nine-year-old girl sustained serious injuries when he attacked her with a knife before raping her in the Daan Viljoen Game Reserve in October 2018.
He was also convicted of raping and stabbing a woman whom he had lured away from a group of friends.
Apart from the rape convictions, Gawanab was also found guilty of attempted rape (including one involving a minor), assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, assault by threat, kidnapping and crimen injuria.
Gawanab appeared unshaken as the lengthy sentence was handed down.
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Gawanab faced 23 counts ranging from rape and attempted rape to attempted murder, kidnapping, housebreaking with intent to rape, indecent assault, crimen injuria and various forms of assault. He was convicted on 14 of the charges.
His crime spree began in December 2012 and continued until his arrest in October 2018, when he attacked a nine-year-old girl. At the time, he was already out on bail on earlier charges.
Delivering judgment, High Court Judge Dinnah Usiku said the sentence should serve as a stern warning.
“Looking at the avalanche of crimes Gawanab committed, the accused must be removed from society for a considerable period of time,” she said. “No one is safe, and the court cannot see how anyone can be safe with him roaming freely.”
Predator
Court records show that Gawanab committed multiple rapes between 2012 and 2018 in Windhoek and its surroundings. In one case, he sexually assaulted his sister’s minor child in September 2015. In another, a nine-year-old girl sustained serious injuries when he attacked her with a knife before raping her in the Daan Viljoen Game Reserve in October 2018.
He was also convicted of raping and stabbing a woman whom he had lured away from a group of friends.
Apart from the rape convictions, Gawanab was also found guilty of attempted rape (including one involving a minor), assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, assault by threat, kidnapping and crimen injuria.
Gawanab appeared unshaken as the lengthy sentence was handed down.
[email protected]
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