Raped wife wins landmark case

2012-01-19 08:50

Pretoria - In a landmark case in the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court, a man has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for physically abusing and raping his wife over a period of 12 years.

The case of Annelise Kriek, 47, marks the first reported case of rape in a marriage since the new Domestic Violence Act of 1996, The Times reported.

Kriek fought a lengthy battle to stop the abuse at the hands of Frederik Christiaan Bossert, 48. She gave permission for her name to be used.

She initially laid three rape charges against her husband and also got a restraining order against him.

The court heard how the abuse started after only one year of marriage. Her husband allegedly assaulted her, tried to drown and strangle her, and repeatedly raped her.

In one instance he twisted her nose after she came out of hospital following a nose operation.

Kriek stated that she was assaulted almost every day.

On sentencing, the magistrate said he was horrified by Bossert’s actions.

Kriek laid the first criminal charges in 2004 and had to wait seven years for justice to be served. But she said it was worth it - and it was a message to other women afraid to leave abusive relationships.

Bossert plans to appeal his conviction and sentence.