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Man guilty of raping, murdering girlfriend

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had not moved around after intercours­e.

The semen matched the DNA profile of the accused.

Snyders said the dental tests that were conducted on the bite marks also matched that of the accused.

“There was a correlatio­n between the profile pattern of the bite marks on the face of the deceased and the dental placement of the accused. There is a narrow possibilit­y that the patterns of the bite marks could match that of another person. However, the deceased and the accused lived in a deserted area and the probabilit­y that another person inflicted the bites is unlikely,” she said.

Snyders added, however, that she could not find that the accused had forced himself on the deceased, and there was a possibilit­y that the intercours­e was consensual.

“The pathologis­t finding of the semen indicated that the deceased was not very active at the time. However, the deceased and accused were in a relationsh­ip so it is possible that they had consensual intercours­e before the assault,” said Snyders.

She said she could also not find that the accused attempted to penetrate the body of the deceased anally.

“The doctor also indicated that there had been penetratio­n to the anus prior to death,” she said.

Snyders, however, dismissed the version of events as given by the accused.

“The accused gave two different versions about how the deceased died. During his bail applicatio­n he told the magistrate that he had found the deceased at home when he returned from work. According to the accused, the deceased had been assaulted. He tried to call an ambulance but the deceased told him not to.

“In his other version, he said that he had found the deceased at the racing track and that she had been assaulted by women, who claimed that she was with their men. He then carried her home. He got blood on his clothes as he carried her. He tried to call the ambulance but the deceased told him not to. The next day he found that she had died.

“The testimony of the employer of the accused and the statement of one of the witnesses, said that the accused had not been at work on the day of the incident. The witness, in his statement, also said he heard the accused assaulting the deceased. No witnesses were called by the defence and the evidence of the State stood unconteste­d.

“Looking at the evidence holistical­ly, there is no other conclusion that can be drawn other than that the accused raped and killed the deceased,” Snyders said.

The matter was postponed for sentencing.

 ??  ?? GUILTY: Simon Zuba covers his face after being found guilty in the NC High Court yesterday of killing and raping his girlfriend.
Picture: Soraya Crowie
GUILTY: Simon Zuba covers his face after being found guilty in the NC High Court yesterday of killing and raping his girlfriend. Picture: Soraya Crowie

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