‘YOU WILL LEAVE IN A COFFIN’

COA upholds life sentence for toddler rapist

A paedophile convicted of raping a three-year-old girl will remain in prison until

his dying day after the Court of Appeal (COA) rejected his plea to have his life sentence reduced.

In 2014, 37-year-old Dipuo Marutwane sexually abused his toddler neighbour, separating the little girl from her bigger sister, aged eight, before dragging the child into the bush and molesting her.

At that point, he had only been a free man for three years, having already served a ten-year sentence for a previous rape, with his prison term elapsing in 2011.

The Palla Road man was caught red-handed by his own sister, who, along with two others, had followed him into the bush.

It is on court record that as they approached the shrubs, Marutwane emerged holding the toddler with her blood-stained dress in his arms. When he saw them, he dropped the child and ran. A short chase ensued, in which the chasing trio managed to apprehend him, eventually handing him over to the police.

Court was told they observed dried tears on the little girl’s cheeks while her private parts were bruised and blood-stained. She had difficulty walking and had bruises on her upper lip and the left side of her neck.

In his original trial, Marutwane elected to remain silent and did not call any witnesses. On 12 August, Francistown High Court sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Although he has been in jail for less than a year, the convict approached COA insisting he was a changed man who was possessed by the devil when he committed the rape. Marutwane maintained he had found God and that the devil no longer had a hold of him.

Unimpressed, court dismissed his appeal, ruling, “These submissions say one thing and one thing only. The appellant is not taking responsibility for his actions but blames the devil instead. Since he is unable to have control over his actions, he is better off in an environment where he will not be tempted to perform such ungodly acts.”

The original sentence was upheld, meaning Marutwane will see out his days behind bars, leaving only in a coffin.