Sentencing postponed in Shamonique murder

THE Western Cape High Court yesterday postponed a kidnapping, rape and murder case to allow the State to elaborate on Battered Woman Syndrome.

The court heard testimony in aggravation and mitigation of sentence for Jerome Amerika, who was found guilty of kidnapping and raping his ex-girlfriend this year. He was also found guilty of kidnapping, raping, and murdering his ex’s 10-year-old sister, Shamonique Claasen.

Amerika, 23, and his former lover had dated since 2013, and despite several breakups and interventions by police, she kept taking him back, the court heard.

They also have a threeyear-old child together.

Claasen went missing in February this year, just a day before her 11th birthday. Two days later a family member noticed a bad smell coming from her uncle’s house, but they assumed it was a dead mouse. Her uncle later discovered that the smell was from Claasen’s body, wrappedin plastic bags and a blanket in his house.

Judge Robert Henneysaid thousands of women found themselves in abusive relationships. He requested the State to elaborate on Battered Woman Syndrome before sentencing.

“It is a reality we live with – women, for various reasons, stay in relationships and put up with the abuse. I would like to discuss this further, consider the reasons and circumstances in order to know what message to send,” Henney said.

State advocate Maria Marshallagreed to elaborate on Battered Woman Syndrome tomorrow.