The Mothibistad man stabbed his wife eight times in front of his daughter on the same day she obtained a protection order against him.
A 42-YEAR-OLD man, Moatlhodi Gilbert Leeuw was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for attempted murder and a further five years for Contravening the Protection Order by the Mothibistad Regional Court after he stabbed his wife eight times in front of their daughter.
Provincial National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the accused stabbed his wife on the same day she was granted a protection order against him.
“On September 18, 2019 the accused, together with his wife appeared in the Mothibistad Magistrates Court where the accused was served with a protection order. The order stipulated that the accused was prohibited from entering their communal residential address which he shared with his wife.
“The protection order also interdicted the accused from going near his wife, insulting or assaulting her. The afternoon of having been served with the protection order, the accused however went to the house, and stabbed his wife eight times in front of their daughter. The victim was rushed to the hospital by the neighbours and was treated for three days. The accused was arrested and charged with Contravention of Protection Order and attempted murder,” said Senokoatsane.
He said the prosecutor called for a harsh sentence during the sentencing procedures.
“The prosecutor, Thapelo Motseonageng argued during sentencing that the court should ensure that women and children are protected from all forms of abuse by sentencing such offenders to harsher sentences.
During sentencing, the presiding officer, Stephen Hinana emphasised the seriousness of the offence as well as the need to protect women and children as the vulnerable group.
“The fact that the accused was served with a protection order the very same day he attacked the complainant was regarded as an aggravating factor showing that the accused did not respect the law at all. The court did not make a ruling for the sentences to run concurrently,” he said.
