Rapists face jail - 20 years on

2004-08-19 07:25

Abigail Isaacs

Cape Town - "They got what they deserved," said a rape victim on Wednesday after the men who raped her 20 years ago were sentenced to prison.

A Wynberg regional court magistrate on Wednesday sentenced Mark Cornick, 39, a businessman, and Leonard Kinnear, 39, the manager of a Montague Gardens company, to five and four years in prison, respectively.

They have applied for leave to appeal against their sentences.

Cornick was found guilty earlier this year on two counts of rape, while Kinnear was found guilty on one.

The rapes took place in January 1983 when, as 18-year-olds, they attacked a 14-year-old girl.

In 2002, the victim went to pick up her nine-year-old daughter from a house in Brackenfell and saw Cornick for the first time since the attack.

Tried to commit suicide

She immediately recognised him and testified on Wednesday that the ordeal of the rape "came back like it had happened yesterday".

The victim had been admitted to hospital after the rape, and had also tried to commit suicide.

Magistrate M Greyvenstein said the men showed no remorse for their actions.

"There is nothing to indicate that what they did in any way affected their consciences."

According to her, correctional supervision was not an appropriate sentence.

"In correctional supervision, too much emphasis is placed on rehabilitation and, as pointed out by the defence, the guilty have no need for rehabilitation," she said.

Greyvenstein extended Cornick and Kinnear's bail pending the outcome of their appeal.

- Die Burger