The Upington Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a husband to four years’ direct imprisonment for contravention of a protection order, after he severely attacked his wife.
It is alleged that on 16 January, in the early hours of the morning, an argument arose between the couple as the wife was busy preparing herself for the morning, said Mojalefa Senokoatsane, regional spokesperson of the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) in the Northern Cape.
While they were still arguing, the husband grabbed his wife and began assaulting her.
She managed to escape and started running down the street, screaming for help. Her husband followed, and continued to attack her in front of neighbours.
The wife was then instructed by her husband to return to their home and because she feared him, she obeyed. Upon their arrival, he instructed her to take off her clothes before continuing his assault.
The matter was reported to the police, and the husband was arrested and charged.
During the court case, the court heard that he had 12 previous convictions, which include seven for assault and one of murder.
Several sentences were imposed upon the husband X from fines and suspended sentences, to direct imprisonment.
During sentencing this week, prosecutor Eloise du Plessis argued that the court should sentence the husband to direct imprisonment as he showed that he did not respect the rule of law, and showed no remorse for his actions.
Du Plessis also said the court should send a clear message to other perpetrators of domestic violence that the protection order should be respected as it serves the purpose of protecting victims of gender-based violence (GBV) against those who are supposed to love and protect them.
In his sentencing, the court agreed with the prosecution that the husband had no remorse as he put his wife through a lengthy trial, thus repeating the trauma which she had to endure.
He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
