Raped women tried to kill themselves

THE three men who raped two women before killing their husbands by stripping them naked and forcing them into a lake where they drowned, should receive life sentences, the high court in Johannesburg heard yesterday.

“It is my submission that the only appropriate sentence in relation to this crime is a life sentence,” prosecutor Monde Mbaqa said.

He said the crimes were not committed on the spur of the moment and that the men had ample time to plan them.

“They organised a ‘firearm’, which turned out to be a toy gun, and were armed with a knife. The accused organised themselves in a large number to intimidate and overpower the victims.”

On October 17, 2015, eight men including Mduduzi Lawrence Mathibela, 33, Edmore Ndlovu, 24, and Thabo Nkala, 26, accosted and robbed two couples taking a stroll at Rhodes Park in Kensington.

They have been found guilty of robbery, two counts of rape and two counts of murder.

To strengthen his argument on aggravating circumstances, Mbaqa recalled the testimony given by trauma specialist Professor Malose Langa, who has been assessing the victims since the ordeal.

“The professor explained to this court that the victims had been in and out of hospital because of the trauma they suffered. Two years later, they are still being hospitalised,” Mbaqa said.

Faint

Langa told the court that every time one of the women spoke about the incident, she would faint. “When one of the ladies testified, after she was done she fainted on the stand.”

Mbaqa also stressed the lack of remorse shown by the men.

“Remorse indicates that someone wants to be rehabilitated, but these men don’t want to be rehabilitated. They still deny they are wrong even though accused number three’s (Mathibela) DNA was found on one of the victims,” he told the court.

He said Mathibela’s uncouth behaviour was an insult to the law. Mathibela was previously kicked out of court for disrupting proceedings.

On Monday, he looked irritated and left the dock when confronted by reporters taking pictures.

Earlier, the court heard how the women had tried to commit suicide and still harboured suicidal thoughts.

One swallowed 30 tablets and the other drank half a bottle of bleach.

Langa said the women were not likely to recover from the trauma and they had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. They were also taking antidepressants.

One of the women had to be prescribed a stronger dosage of her medication because she was not coping.

Judge Papi Masopa is expected to pass sentence tomorrow.