NW priest handed double life sentence for murder, rape
The North West High Court has handed 50-year-old priest Lucas Chauke a double life sentence following his conviction on charges of murder and rape.
Chauke was convicted of raping a woman in Hammanskraal in 2017.
NPA regional spokesperson Henry Mamothame says Chauke took her to a secluded place near a dam, under the pretence of assisting her with her spirituality.
"Upon arrival, he repeatedly raped her and subsequently tied her to a tree, before fleeing the scene. After a while, she managed to untie herself and ran to ask for help, she managed to report the incident to the police, who then started searching for the suspect. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape.”
In a separate incident in May 2018, Chauke took a 55-year-old woman to the same secluded area next to the dam.
He then tied her to a tree before fleeing the scene.
"Her decomposed body was later discovered still tied to the tree, as she was unable to set herself free," says Mamothame.
Chauke was eventually arrested and linked to the crimes through DNA testing.
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