A minor accused of rape, who was set free pending DNA analysis, went on to rape and murder a child. The incident caused a judge to raise concern over the backlog in DNA testing in cases of violent crimes.
Judge Mohini Moodley expressed how the matter before her at the Mthunzini circuit court was a “clear example” of tragic consequences resulting from the backlog of DNA affected victims of gender-based violence and the administration of justice. “He within a short period attacked, raped, and killed his next victim. Tragic consequences and the loss of an innocent life,” the judge said.
The perpetrator, who has now been convicted, cannot be named because he committed the crimes while he was still a minor. In September 2019 the convicted criminal, who was 16 years old at the time, committed his first murder. He had a knife and followed a girl who was his age, as she went to Sunday school. The culprit waited for her to be in an isolated area before he launched his attack and killed the victim.
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The 16-year-old minor was arrested shortly after the murder, but charges were provisionally withdrawn as the state waited for DNA analysis to come back from the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory. The suspect launched another brutal attack nine months later in June 2020. He attacked and raped an eleven-year-old child and killed her after she promised to tell her uncle of the rape.
Judge Moodley said 20 years would give the accused an opportunity to attend educational programmes that will teach him self-restraint and respect for others.
Source: News24, City Press, Ground-up, image from News24
