Rapist 'addicted to sex'

2009-03-10 20:32

Cape Town - Convicted serial rapist Tsediso Letsoenya, a former naval officer, believes he has a sexual addiction, his defence counsel told the Cape High Court on Tuesday.

Defence advocate Nehemiah Ballem told the court Letsoenya wanted to be assessed by a psychiatrist experienced in sexual addictions, but that the psychiatrist had to be a woman.

Following an application by prosecutor Christenus van der Vijver, the court has referred Letsoenya to the Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital for an assessment as to whether he is a danger to society or not.

Letsoenya's protracted trial before Judge Abe Motala, and two assessors, had involved 104 charges, which included 39 of rape and 33 of indecent assault.

On Monday, however, he was found guilty on only 28 counts of rape and 28 of indecent assault, as well as eight of aggravated armed robbery, two of attempted rape, two of common assault, and two of crimen injuria.

MO

Letsoenya's method of attack was to confront couples walking together in deserted areas near railway stations, and to force the man at knife or gun point to rape his companion.

Letsoenya would then proceed to rape her himself.

Letsoenya was at all times cleanly shaven and neat during the incidents which gave police the suspicion that he was in the employ of one of the armed forces such as the police or navy.

Because one of his victims was raped near the Wingfield Naval Base in Goodwood, police started their enquiries at the naval base which in fact led to his eventual arrest.

The judge told Letsoenya that he was entitled to include a psychiatrist of his own choice among the panel of psychiatrists who are to assess him.

Danger to society

If Letsoenya is assessed to be a danger to society, the court would declare him to be a dangerous criminal which involved a sentence for an indefinite period.

The judge said such a sentence excluded his release from parole without him again appearing in court for a further assessment as to his release or his continued imprisonment.

The period of imprisonment is likely to be longer than a life sentence of 25 years.

The case continues on April 14.

- SAPA