PTA garden fork attacker guilty

 

08 January 2013 - 10:20
By Sapa

A rapist who terrorised a Pretoria woman and her seven-year-old son for hours and later assaulted her with a garden fork has been found guilty by the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court, it was reported on Tuesday.

It was reported that Elias Mothate, 37, was found guilty of robbery with aggravating circumstances, theft, rape, kidnapping and attempted murder.

"I am HIV-positive. If the semen found on the victim doesn't show this, I am not guilty," Mothate told the court after his conviction.

In July 2010, the woman and her son were asleep in their home when Mothate broke in and threatened to kill them if they did not give him money.

He raped her in the garden, then forced her to drive to an ATM and withdraw cash.

She jumped out of the car and ran away, but Mothate chased her, caught her and repeatedly stabbed her with a garden fork. She was helped by people who heard her screams.

She had been badly injured and had to be resuscitated three times in hospital.

She had since undergone antiretroviral treatment and was still receiving trauma counselling.

Sentencing proceedings start in February.

 

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