Serial rapist faces life sentence
A man convicted on 16 counts, including rape and attempted murder, is likely to receive a life sentence next month.
Convicted serial rapist Jan Rooinasie (52) will be sentenced on 18 June, after the State conceded yesterday that a jail term of 37 years or more would be too long and that a life sentence would be more appropriate.
Defence lawyer Mbanga Siyomuinji had argued in the High Court that given the nature and seriousness of the offences, the court should impose a life sentence, which normally does not exceed 25 years.
“An effective sentence of 37 years or more is worse than a life sentence. Under the circumstances the court can only impose a life sentence,” he argued.
State advocate Karin Esterhuisen argued that Rooinasie had no respect for physical integrity and that he attached no value to it.
Although she had implied that the court should impose a jail term of 37 years or more, she conceded to a 6 February ruling of the Supreme Court, where unnecessarily long jail terms were ruled unconstitutional.
Judge Alfred Siboleka postponed the case against Rooinasie to 18 June for sentencing.
The accused was found guilty of 16 counts - eight of rape, four of attempted murder, two of indecent assault and two of crimen injuria.
This related to four separate incidents in which two teenage girls and two women were allegedly attacked and raped in Windhoek.
Among the charges he was found guilty of is the abduction and rape of a 13-year-old girl in Katutura on 25 May 2007.
Nearly three years after this incident, Rooinasie attacked a woman, strangled and raped her in Windhoek on 2 March 2010.
He also used vulgar language. He had asked the complainant to help him with his girlfriend, who he claimed was in labour.
Four days later, Rooinasie used the same modus operandi to lure another woman to accompany him into a bushy area in Katutura, where he then threatened her with a knife, strangled her until she lost consciousness and indecently assaulted and raped her.
The accused also told a 17-year-old girl he encountered near the Katutura State Hospital that he needed help to assist another woman to carry bags. When the girl accompanied him into a bushy area, he pulled out a knife, threatened to kill her, strangled her and raped her.
FRED GOEIEMAN
Defence lawyer Mbanga Siyomuinji had argued in the High Court that given the nature and seriousness of the offences, the court should impose a life sentence, which normally does not exceed 25 years.
“An effective sentence of 37 years or more is worse than a life sentence. Under the circumstances the court can only impose a life sentence,” he argued.
State advocate Karin Esterhuisen argued that Rooinasie had no respect for physical integrity and that he attached no value to it.
Although she had implied that the court should impose a jail term of 37 years or more, she conceded to a 6 February ruling of the Supreme Court, where unnecessarily long jail terms were ruled unconstitutional.
Judge Alfred Siboleka postponed the case against Rooinasie to 18 June for sentencing.
The accused was found guilty of 16 counts - eight of rape, four of attempted murder, two of indecent assault and two of crimen injuria.
This related to four separate incidents in which two teenage girls and two women were allegedly attacked and raped in Windhoek.
Among the charges he was found guilty of is the abduction and rape of a 13-year-old girl in Katutura on 25 May 2007.
Nearly three years after this incident, Rooinasie attacked a woman, strangled and raped her in Windhoek on 2 March 2010.
He also used vulgar language. He had asked the complainant to help him with his girlfriend, who he claimed was in labour.
Four days later, Rooinasie used the same modus operandi to lure another woman to accompany him into a bushy area in Katutura, where he then threatened her with a knife, strangled her until she lost consciousness and indecently assaulted and raped her.
The accused also told a 17-year-old girl he encountered near the Katutura State Hospital that he needed help to assist another woman to carry bags. When the girl accompanied him into a bushy area, he pulled out a knife, threatened to kill her, strangled her and raped her.
FRED GOEIEMAN
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article