Wednesday, October 16, 2024 - A 33-year-old man, Jakob Ratel, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court of South Africa, Northern Cape Division, in Kimberley, after being found guilty of murdering his girlfriend, Renée Lachporia., 43.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in a statement on Wednesday,
October 16, said that Ratel was also convicted on three counts of assault with
grievous bodily harm (GBH) and sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment for each
count.
The incident occurred on 15 May 2021, when Ratel and Lachporia, who were
in a relationship and living together in Delportshoop, were at a local shebeen
when an argument broke out over financial matters. After leaving the shebeen,
they proceeded to Ratel's sister’s house, accompanied by another girlfriend of
the accused, where the argument escalated into physical violence. Ratel’s
sister eventually ordered them to leave after he began to assault Lachporia.
Approximately two hours later, Ratel returned to his sister’s home and
confessed to her that he had kicked and trampled on Lachporia’s head,
indicating the severity of his actions.
Following this disturbing conversation, he visited his mother to inform
her that he had k!lled Lachporia. His mother noticed that Ratel's shoes were
bloodied, prompting her to contact his sister to check on the victim.
Unfortunately, after several attempts to reach Lachporia went
unanswered, her body was discovered two days later, covered with a blanket in
her home. The police were called to the scene, and she was pronounced dead
shortly thereafter. Ratel was arrested for the murder of Lachporia.
Despite his trial, Ratel pleaded not guilty to all charges. The state
successfully presented evidence to have both his mother and sister declared
hostile witnesses after they denied earlier statements made regarding the
incident.
During sentencing, Senior State Advocate Anel Stellenberg argued
vehemently that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances that
would justify deviating from the prescribed sentence of life
imprisonment.
She emphasized that Ratel showed no remorse for his actions, claiming
self-defence while admitting to killing the victim. The state highlighted
Ratel's dangerousness and the necessity to remove him from society.
In support of the prosecution's case, the prosecutor submitted a Victim
Impact Statement that illustrated the profound grief experienced by Lachporia's
family, particularly her two children, who are now without their mother due to
Ratel's senseless actions.
In her ruling, the Honourable presiding Judge stated that the court must
uphold its constitutional mandate to address murders arising from domestic
relationships and to protect the constitutional rights of victims.
The judge imposed a life sentence for the murder charge and an
additional 3-year sentence for the three counts of assault, all to run
concurrently with the life sentence.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes this ruling,
reinforcing its resolve to combat domestic violence and ensure that individuals
who commit such heinous crimes face severe consequences. The NPA remains
committed to pursuing justice for victims of crime and advocating for harsher
sentences for perpetrators.
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