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POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED: Simon Rikhotso after being sentenced at the Johannesburg High Court for kidnapping and rape. PHOTO: BAFANA MAHLANGU

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• How rape ordeal affected girl

A 28-YEAR-OLD Ekurhuleni rapist was sentenced to two life terms in prison by the Johannesburg High Court on Friday.

Simon Rikhotso of Ivory Park was sentenced to life by Judge Kathy Satchwell for kidnapping and repeatedly raping a child last December. The child was aged six at the time.

The child was saved after Rikhotso's niece, Mpho, heard her desperate cries for help.

Satchwell said she shuddered to think what would have happened to the girl had she not been rescued. She said the child was left with serious psychological and physical scars as a result of the horrible rape.

"A registered nurse testified that the girl had suffered multiple tears and swelling to her private parts," she said.

The child's mother said her little girl was being treated in hospital.

"She goes to hospital regularly for checkups. What is important is that she gets better. Also, she will begin counselling at the Teddy Clinic on Thursday," she said.

Satchwell said she had been impressed by the girl's testimony.

"Her evidence was not contradictory. I was also impressed by her capacity for recollection. She was not making up stories, dreaming or fantasising. Why would she tell a lie and positively identify you?

"A girl that young cannot consent to sexual intercourse. You planned and intended the assault.

"You first took her into the veld where you raped her and after that you took her to your room," Satchwell said.

Rikhotso, who sat expressionlessly throughout his trial, was found guilty on all counts, including three of rape and one of kidnapping.

He was sentenced to two life terms for the crime.

Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the sentence. Spokeswoman Phindi Louw said: "We are happy with the sentence as it fits the crime. We hope this sentence will send a strong message to other would-be-rapists." - selebim@sowetan.co.za

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Wed Jun 19 14:48:04 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 30, 2012

Edinburg

You heartless you deserve to be hanged!
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Jul 30, 2012

Mellow

Simon you bloody swine phillip my voet go hand with the balls
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Jul 30, 2012

RobinH

ABout time someone got a meaningful sentence.
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Jul 30, 2012

lindsay

well another one who is going to chow our tax money for free he should have been hanged or shot we can't share the same oxygen with him maarn nxa
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Jul 30, 2012

DAVINATOR22

hang him with his balls
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Jul 30, 2012

golly459

you such a b@stard you dont even desrve two life terms in prison. you deserve to get your dirty P@nis cut ntlaaaaaaa,
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Jul 30, 2012

DJWinner

Are you sure he is 28 years old? He looks 39.

I wonder how someone can have sex with a 6 year old. Can the spear really go in?
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Jul 30, 2012

KingMa

We really must legalise prostitution, people are sick....
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Jul 30, 2012

maneater

thank you judge. its a pitty that come the next elections our president is going to announce amnesty for this guy so he can come out and vote for him.
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Jul 30, 2012

Kgaoza606

Got shot magistrate, now the bastard will get the taste of his medicine from boMaleven's spears in his dirty ass...
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