The Springbok regional court gave accused Derrik Etiene Cloete two life sentences for rape and murder yesterday, February 31.
Sgt. Merapelo Pilane mentioned during the festival season in 2012, the Steinkopf police received information from the public about a dead body lying in an abandoned building, near the N7 national road.
Upon their arrival, Steinkopf police found a body covered in a blanket and a male person who was seen running from the scene was immediately arrested and taken to the police station.
” After interrogation, he was later arrested and charged for the murder of the victim. The investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Pieter Barnard was assigned the docket and collected all evidence and the suspect was linked to the murder and rape of the victim through DNA,” said Pilane.
Both sentences will run concurrently and the suspect was declared ineligible to possess a firearm.
The police in the Northern Cape promise to intensify and prioritize gender based violence and femicide cases.
