Tongueless man held for rape
2008-06-04 21:37
Thabisile Khoza
Barberton - Police have tracked down a man whose tongue is believed to have been bitten off when he allegedly raped a woman last month.
The 36-year-old man from Umjindini outside Barberton was not asked to plead to rape when he appeared in Barberton Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
He was remanded until June 23 for further investigation.
He was arrested at home on Saturday when police received information that there was a man with no tongue living there.
Constable Jabu Ndubane said on Wednesday that the man struggled to speak to police when questioned because of his injury.
She said police found that he was not only wanted for rape, but for skipping bail on a housebreaking and robbery case that took place in 2006.
Put tongue in plastic bag
His tongue is believed to have been bitten off on May 18 when he allegedly tried to kiss a 34-year-old woman he was raping.
He stabbed her in the shoulder to force her to let him go and then fled.
Ndubane said: "The woman put the tongue in a plastic bag and took it to Barberton police station."
The woman had been attacked after leaving a night vigil near her house.
The court has set the housebreaking and house robbery cases down for July 8.
- African Eye