Rapist gets five life sentences
2008-02-29 18:10
Durban - A man who was convicted on four counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping, five counts of indecent assault, three counts of rape and one count of attempted rape was given five life sentences at the Ladysmith High Court, police said on Friday.
Captain Charmaine Struwig said Vusimuzi Innocent Khumalo, 32, was dubbed the "Serial Killer Rapist" in KwaZulu-Natal's Ladysmith area.
Struwig said Khumalo received five life sentences and an additional 53 years for a total of 16 criminal charges.
One of the many crimes Khumalo committed was gunning down a family walking along Pieters Road in Umbulwane Road on March 17 2007.
Khumalo shot dead the husband, 30-year-old Mzomusha Khanyile and his two-year-old son Nondumiso.
Khumalo then dragged Khanyile's wife into a nearby veld, before repeatedly raping her.
At the High Court, Khumalo received 15 years in prison for housebreaking and robbery, four life terms for four counts of murder, life imprisonment for three counts of rape, ten years for two counts of kidnapping, 20 years for five counts of indecent assault, and eight years imprisonment for attempted rape.
"I think the community of Ladysmith can breathe easily now that Khumalo has been convicted," Struwig said.
- SAPA