A 35-year-old man from Marydale in the Northern Cape received a double life sentence for raping and murdering a 21-year-old woman. On the same day, the accused received additional sentences for related but separate incidents – seven years for attempted rape and one year for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. These sentences were handed down on Friday, 1 August, to Selby George in the Kimberley High Court.
His double life sentence followed the rape and murder of Thobeka Bosman in Marydale. Lt. Col Sergio Kock, police spokesperson, said the victim’s half-naked body was discovered on 7 October 2018 at approximately 08:00 under a bridge on Snyman Street in Marydale. She had been raped and strangled. George was arrested shortly thereafter and remained in custody until his sentencing on Friday.
His additional sentences stem from an incident on 22 December 2018 when George was acquitted of rape and assault charges involving a 36-year-old woman in the town.
Also, on 2 March 2019 at approximately 22:00, George attempted to rape a 37-year-old woman and severely assaulted her at a residence in Marydale. A female friend of the victim managed to escape and alerted the police. Officers responded swiftly and arrested George at the scene.
All the victims were known to the accused.
The additional sentences will run concurrently with the existing life sentences.
Lt. Gen. Koliswa Otola, provincial police commissioner, praised Det. Sgt Lewellyn Smit of the Marydale Detectives for his meticulous investigation in the first case. Otola commended the collaborative efforts between the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority.
The district commissioner for Pixley ka Seme, Maj. Gen. Nomana Mtukushe, praised Detective Sgt Riaan van Wyk of the Prieska Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for his exceptional investigative work. She also acknowledged the strong collaboration with Adv. Katrien Jansen and Adv. Ters Engelbrecht, whose prosecutorial efforts contributed to the successful conviction.
Another man sentenced for murdering girlfriend
Also last week, on 31 July, Jan Jonker (37) from Victoria West was sentenced in the Victoria West Regional Court to 25 years for murdering his girlfriend, Charlene Tieties (31).
The incident occurred on Thursday, 30 January 2024, at approximately 00:30, when the accused viciously assaulted and stabbed the victim with a knife at their residence. Despite being rushed to hospital for urgent medical care, the victim succumbed to her injuries at approximately 01:30.
Jonkers fled the scene but was apprehended later that same day. His bail application was denied.
Mtukushe commended Det. Sgt Basil Abrahams of the Victoria West Detectives and Prosecutor Caswell Joseph for their outstanding collaborative efforts, which led to the successful conviction and sentencing of the accused.
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