“There is no room in a civilised society for thugs who terrify, maim and rob”.
These were the words of state prosecutor, Nickie Turner in Grahamstown High Court on Wednesday, while the sentence of convicted rapist, Jamie Goba, 19 was being determined.
“There is no room in a civilised society for thugs who terrify, maim and rob”.
These were the words of state prosecutor, Nickie Turner in Grahamstown High Court on Wednesday, while the sentence of convicted rapist, Jamie Goba, 19 was being determined.
Goba was one of four men convicted of raping a young woman and robbing her and a companion in Fitchat Street last year.
Goba's defence lawyer, Francis Human, had submitted a report to acting judge Zolile Dukada, recommending that his client serve only a five-year sentence.
“He wrote letters of apology to the victims, and that is the indication that he is very remorseful,” he argued.
Goba had also pleaded guilty and given evidence against his co-accused, Human said. Goba had been 18 at the time the crime was committed, had acted under the influence of alcohol and Human said, had “participated in a group, which could have affected his judgement”.
Human argued that Goba’s sentence be reconsidered because Goba's intellectual ability was low- he had only gone as far as Grade 4.
“He is a first-time offender, no previous convictions, and he can be rehabilitated,” said Human.
Turner, however, cut to the chase, describing the attack as gratuitous violence, and saying none of the accused had shown any mercy for either victim.
“And for what? A few rands garnered for robbed items to buy the next round of drinks,” said Turner.
Turner also pointed out that, given Goba's intellectual ability, the letters were unlikely to have been written by him. She suggested that long-term imprisonment of 18 years would be an appropriate punishment.
Judge Dukada also questioned who had actually written the letters.
As for Goba's early guilty plea, the judge pointed out that Goba had no choice, because his DNA had been linked to the crime.
The judge postponed sentencing to 11 August.
The other accused, Christo Bosch, 19, Deon Walters, 25 and Justin Goba, 21, are to be sentenced in September.
