Rape suspect runs amok in court - bleeding man tries to throttle accuser

There was drama at the Protea Magistrate's Court in Soweto yesterday when a man convicted of abusing his former lover overpowered prison warders and attacked the woman during proceedings.

The incident happened after lunch in Court 13 where the man had just been convicted on three counts of rape, one of assault, kidnapping and exposing his genitals to minor children.

According to eyewitnesses, the man jumped from the dock after being found guilty, grabbed the woman and throttled her.

"He hit me with his fists and pulled my hair out," the traumatised woman told Sowetan shortly after the attack.

A prison warder in court is believed to have kicked the man in a bid to restrain him, causing him to bleed profusely from a wound on the forehead.

The man then ran out of the courtroom through the corridors, causing pandemonium as people screamed in fear at the sight of the screaming bleeding man.

Still bleeding, he barged into Court 7 where proceedings were under way. A woman who was trying to flee the scary sight fell as she ran.

Three prison warders grappled with the man in a bid to restrain him. They eventually managed to take him out of the courtroom.

The man is expected to appear in court in September for a probation officer's report and sentencing.

According to the Soweto woman, her ex-boyfriend had always been abusive towards her and their three children aged eight, nine and 11.

The parents cannot be named to protect the identities of the children.

The woman said she met the man in 2002 and later broke up with him because he was abusive.

"In 2011 he once tried to burn me and my kids inside the house. He was sentenced to eight years for that case but was released on parole in March last year.

"When he came back he continued where he had left off and this time it was worse," she added.

"I left my home and stayed with my friend. I left my kids on their own.

I was scared and I could not take it anymore," she said.

A couple of months later she returned home to her children, thinking he would not come back for her.

"One night I went out to fetch water from the tap, when I came back I found him standing behind the door.

"He took me to his house by force and assaulted me with a helmet until I lost consciousness."

"When I woke up he raped me. He then fetched my kids and repeatedly raped me in front of them for three days," she added.

"It was only after my family came with police that I was rescued from that house," she said.

mncuber@sowetan.co.za