Zimbabwean Priest Sentenced To 2 Life Terms For Rape And Murder In South Africa
A 50-year-old Zimbabwean priest who was illegally living in South Africa was sentenced to two life terms for murder and rape in the neighbouring country.
The Zimbabwean national, Lucas Chauke, was sentenced to two life terms for murder and rape by the North West High Court.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) provincial spokesperson Henry Mamothame said Chauke was also jailed for another 30 years on two other counts of murder and rape.
Between 2017 and 2018, Chauke, a known priest, attacked three women.
In the first incident in 2017, Chauke took a 53-year-old woman to a secluded place, ostensibly to help spiritually but then raped the woman repeatedly and tied her to a tree before fleeing from the scene.
According to Mamothame, the victim managed to untie herself and ran for help. Chauke received a life sentence for this attack.
In the second incident, on 10 May 2018, Chauke took a 55-year-old woman to the same secluded place and raped her. He then fled the scene.
The victim failed to untie herself and her decomposed body was later discovered still tied to the tree.
Chauke was sentenced to life for murder and a further 15 years for rape
On 3 August 2018, Chauke took a 55-year-old woman to the same spot and tried to rape her, but failed. He tied the woman to a tree and left her to die.
He was sentenced to 15 years for murder. Said Mamothame:
Chauke was eventually arrested, and he was linked through DNA specimens to all other incidents.
| IOL
