Rapist 'touched' by tears

2009-07-06 14:06

Cape Town - Convicted serial rapist Tsediso Letsoenya, a former able seaman in the navy, was "touched" by the tears of victims who testified in his Western Cape High Court trial on multiple rape charges.

Letsoenya, 38, was called to the witness stand on Monday by his defence counsel Nehemia Bellem to testify in mitigation of sentence.

His trial was before judge Abe Motala and two assessors, who found him guilty on 28 counts of rape and eight of aggravated robbery.

He faced life sentences on eight of the rape counts, and a minimum of 15 years' jail on each of the eight robbery charges.

It transpired in Monday's proceedings that Letsoenya had kept a diary of the many times he had had consensual sexual relations with women.

He told the court he had studied his diary in prison and had concluded from it that he had led an "abnormal" life.

Letsoenya was referred to the Valkenberg psychiatric hospital for an assessment after he had informed his counsel that he had a sexual addiction.

On Monday, he denied he had ever spoken of a sexual addiction and said he regarded his sexual exploits as sexual misbehaviour.

Asked by Bellem why he had kept a diary of all his consensual sexual escapades, he said he had no reason.

Asked how he felt about his victims, he said: "In essence, I really cannot remember what happened.

"For those who came to court and cried as they related their ordeals, both men and women, I feel very touched and sorry for them."

He said he had tried to explain his sexual problems to the psychiatrists at Valkenberg, but they could not understand.

Bellem told Letsoenya now was the time for him to explain it all to the court.

He replied: "What can I explain to the court, if the doctors say I do not have a sexual addiction?"

Asked what made him think he had a sexual addiction, he said he had spoken about sexual misbehaviour, and not addiction.

Letsoenya was to be sentenced on Friday.

- SAPA