'Better to be killed than raped'
18/10/2006 23:04  - (SA)  

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Reliving the terror of rape Court frees Grasmere suspect 'I am incredibly angry' Better security at Grasmere Three nabbed for horror hijack

Liela Magnus, Beeld

Pretoria - A woman who was kidnapped and raped along with her 14-year-old niece near the Grasmere toll plaza in March 2004 has welcomed the guilty sentence handed down to one of their attackers in the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday.

Acting Judge Mahomed Ismael said although Jacob Cokinha Kasper, formerly known as Ismail Casimo, didn't physically rape the women, he also didn't try to stop his accomplices.

Ismael found Kasper guilty on charges of robbery with extenuating circumstances; kidnapping, attempted murder and three charges of being an accomplice to rape.

"You remained at the scene while the women were horribly raped. You shared the spoils; you could've driven away, but you did nothing to stop the others from raping the women."

Pleased

The woman said: "I'm pleased Kasper has been found guilty, but would have been more pleased if everything was over.

"It's true. They should rather murder than rape you, because you can't describe what you have to live with afterwards. It destroys your soul and breaks you."

The women and the mother of the teenager, now 17, held hands while Ismail handed down his ruling.

'Why did they do it?'

"I carry a load of guilt because I couldn't protect the girl. She's like my own daughter.

"The one that raped her had targeted her and asked her several times if she was still a virgin.

"I begged him to leave her alone and just take me. I was slapped around and a firearm pressed even harder against my head because I wanted to protect her.

"She was a child. It was inexcusable what they did to her and why did they do it? For greed?"

The teenager's mother said every time the court case resumed her daughter "took a dip. I never had a teenager. In one evening I got an adult". She said her daughter lived in fear because her rapist had not yet been arrested for the crime.

'It's like a sword hanging over you'

The man who raped her was positively linked through DNA evidence to the incident, but he's in a Mozambique prison. The third attacker had died.

The woman said: "It's like a sword hanging over you. I hope we'll be able to continue with our lives when the case ends."

The identity of the women may not be disclosed.

The case continues on Monday when Kasper could be sentenced.

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