FILABUSI- A 47-year-old man from Eskadale Farm in Esigodini who beat up his wife’s niece for turning down his sexual advances has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for assault and attempted rape.
Thabani Gola was found guilty on two counts of assault and attempted rape when he appeared before magistrate Nonkululeko Mkhonto yesterday.
The court heard Gola had a related previous conviction.
The magistrate, however, suspended 12 months of the sentence on condition of good behaviour.
The court heard on December 17 last year at around 9am, the complainant, who cannot be named on legal grounds, turned down Gola’s sexual advances when he had invited her to his bedroom hut.
In a fit of rage, Gola whipped her with a sjambok while her two minor children watched. Ncube later reported the matter to the police, leading to Gola’s arrest.
Gola admitted beating up the woman, but denied the attempted rape charges.
Passing sentence, the magistrate considered that Gola had a record of violence and the fact that he assaulted Ncube in the presence of her minor children might have caused them a lot of trauma. Smart Tafireyi prosecuted.
