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Friday, January 21, 2005 - Web posted at 8:00:17 GMT 15-year prison term for sex attack on child of 7 WERNER MENGESA YOUNG Rehoboth resident convicted of raping a seven-year-old girl - without actually having had sexual intercourse with her - was sentenced to a 15-year prison term on Tuesday this week. |
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Norman de Klerk, who was 24 years old when he sexually assaulted the girl at Rehoboth on August 9 2002, was sentenced by Magistrate Dinnah Usiku in the Rehoboth Regional Court. He was convicted of rape after the Magistrate heard testimony that he had twice inserted a finger into the private parts of the child. In terms of the Combating of Rape Act of 2000, anyone who under coercive circumstances inserts any part of his or her body or any object into the vagina or anus of another person, is considered to have committed rape. The Act also requires a court to sentence a first offender convicted of raping someone under the age of 13 years to imprisonment for not less than 15 years. De Klerk initially told the court that he wanted to plead guilty to the charge. However, the Magistrate entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf after he told the court that he was so drunk at the time of the incident that he could not actually remember what had happened. According to the evidence, De Klerk had collected the child from her aunt's house, saying that he had been sent by her mother to fetch her. After he had taken her to his house, he locked the door and carried out the illegal sexual act, injuring her in the process. The incident came to light the next day, when her mother and a cousin noticed that her private parts were bleeding and she appeared to be walking with discomfort. De Klerk stood trial without legal representation, having chosen to conduct his own defence. Public Prosecutor Dominic Lisulo represented the State. |
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