Attack was 'brutal and heinous'

2007-11-30 20:23

Grahamstown - Two men were found guilty of brutally assaulting and robbing an elderly woman by the Grahamstown High Court on Friday.

They will be sentenced on December 3.

Judge Elna Revelas found Khayalethu Harmaans, 23, of Tuinplaas, Kirkwood, and David Hanabe, 32, of Moses Madiba, Kirkwood, guilty of house breaking with intent to rob, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Revelas said the two men broke into the house of Joan Schonken, 72, of Kopkrap Farm, Kirkwood, on November 19 last year, and "brutally assaulted her".

Schonken was robbed of household items and her red Toyota Cressida.

"She was a frail old lady. It was a brutal attack and she passed out and became unconscious as a result of the sustained assaults. She was thrown to the floor, beaten, punched and kicked, then lashed with a sjambok.

"When she came to she was lying in a pool of her own blood. She was terrified, but her faith in God allowed her, even with her hands tied behind her back, and despite her poor physical condition, to get up and open the door for the armed response guard."

Citing the serious injuries suffered by Schonken, Revelas said these included a fractured skull, a dislocated shoulder, sjambok welts on her face and body, and severe facial bruising.

Calling for a 25-year prison term, State advocate Nico Henning called the assault "on a crippled old lady of 72, brutal and heinous in the extreme".

"Once she had been tied up she posed no threat to them whatsoever. The gratuitous nature of the terrible violence they inflicted on her was cowardly and depraved," said Henning.

- SAPA