Zimbo Sentenced to 3 Life Terms & 226 Years of Imprisonment
Chauke and his accomplices would break into houses robbing and gang raping the female victims
Zimbo Sentenced to 3 Life Terms & 226 Years of Imprisonment
ILLEGAL ZIMBABWEAN NATIONAL Leonard Chauke was SENTENCED TO THREE LIFE TERMS AND 226 YEARS DIRECT IMPRISONMENT.
The Pretoria High Court sentenced Chauke (34), from Olievenhoutbosch to:
- 3 life terms for 2 counts of rape and murder,
- 80 years direct imprisonment, for 4 counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances,
- 90 years direct imprisonment for 6 counts of unlawful possession of a firearm,
- 15 years direct imprisonment, for 5 counts of housebreaking,
- 15 years direct imprisonment for 3 counts of kidnapping,
- 10 years direct imprisonment for rape,
- 12 years direct imprisonment for 4 counts of unlawful possession of ammunition,
- 2 years direct imprisonment for escaping from custody and
- 2 years direct imprisonment for being illegal in the country.
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Chauke was meant to serve a 15-year sentence at Kgosi Maphuru Correctional Services, for housebreaking and robbery with aggravating circumstances, when he escaped in December 2020, only after two months of his sentence.
After his escape, Chauke and his accomplices committed crimes in and around Olievenhoutbosch and Wierda Park where they use the same modus operandi where would break into the complainants’ houses, robbing them of their belongings and taking the female victims to the nearby veld and gang raping them.
The youngest of his victims was a 17-year-old girl.
On 7 June 2022, Chauke and his accomplice arrived shot and killed a 35-year-old man at a squatter camp in Olievenhoutbosch.
Chauke was then arrested two days later after a witness to the murder pointed him out to the police and has been in custody since.
In court, Chauke pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against him and told the court that he committed the offences while under the influence of drugs.
Through his legal representative, he asked the court to deviate from imposing the prescribed minimum sentences because he has been in custody since his arrest.
However, state prosecutor Advocate Mokautu Masilo, argued that Chauke did not show any remorse for the crimes he committed, instead, he is hiding behind his use of drugs.
Zimbo Sentenced to 3 Life Terms & 226 Years of Imprisonment
Furthermore, the crimes committed were heinous and were done in a meticulous way where Chauke and his accomplice would scout and attack vulnerable people and threaten them with a weapon.
Moreover, Masilo handed in 7 victim impact statements facilitated by the Court Preparation Officer, Lebogang Lebese, where the victims expressed how the incidents have emotionally affected them.
Therefore, asked the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence.
When handing down the sentence, Judge Portia Phahlane, agreed with the state that Chauke did not show any remorse, that he was convicted of very serious offences that are prevalent in our country, and that the court must protect the law-abiding citizens from such criminals.
Moreover, Judge Phahlane said everyone has a right to life, which should not be taken away from them and that our communities are terrorized by people like Chauke.
Therefore, a clear message should be sent that such behaviour is not accepted.
Therefore, the sentence given was appropriate.
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The Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Sibongile Mzinyathi welcomes the fitting sentence handed by the court to a man who terrorized the community.
He also applauds the outstanding work of the investigating officer Sgt Edward Matsobane and the prosecutor.
He wants to assure the community that violent crimes are a priority for the NPA.
