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Article: Child rapist's life sentence cut to 13 years.(News)
- Article from:
- The Star (South Africa)
- Article date:
- September 3, 2008
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BYLINE: Karyn Maughan
The Supreme Court of Appeal has slashed a child rapist's life sentence because his young victim's age and alleged mental retardation were never proved in the court that convicted him.
But anti-rape activists say the decision to reduce Bongani Vilakazi's life sentence to an effective 13 years was understandable in the light of his "appalling" prosecution.
"I'm not sure the appeal court has any other option than to sentence in the way that they did," said researcher Lisa Vetten of the Tshwaranang Legal Resources Centre, which successfully applied to be heard during Vilakazi's appeal.
"What this case has done has ...