The sentencing proceedings for soccer player Thembinkosi Lorch, who assaulted his ex-girlfriend, was postponed to September after the Randburg Magistrate’s Court heard that the Orlando Pirates striker was out of the country with his club.
THE SENTENCING proceedings for convicted woman beater Thembinkosi Lorch was postponed to September after the Randburg Magistrate’s Court heard that the Orlando Pirates striker was out of the country with his club.
In June, the court found Lorch guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after he strangled and beat his ex-girlfriend, Fundiswa Nokuphiwa Mathithibala, at his Midrand home three years ago.
Lorch is now romantically linked with late Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s granddaughter, actress Natasha Thahane, whom he has a child with.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Louw-Mjonondwane said the sentencing proceedings were expected to commence on Friday but the matter was postponed when Lorch was a no-show.
He is currently in Europe for a pre-season tour with his club, Orlando Pirates.
“The court could not proceed as Mr Lorch and his defence team were not ready with their pre-sentencing report, citing that the accused was out of the country and they could not complete the process of compiling the report,” Louw-Mjonondwane said on Sunday night.
Lorch had gotten into an argument with his ex-lover at his Midrand home, leading to the altercation which the court has now found him guilty of.
“The case relates to a complaint laid with the Midrand police by his girlfriend in September 2020, that resulted in his arrest and subsequent release on bail of R2,000.
“Mathithibala said she was visiting Lorch when he left her at his home to go out with his friend. Mathithibala messaged him to return her car keys and, upon arrival, an argument ensued and Lorch became violent towards her and started to strangle her and beat her while pulling her up and down. She called for help and his friend came to her rescue,” Louw-Mjonondwane said.
State prosecutor Michele Hart argued that the medical evidence corroborated the evidence of the complainant and Lorch did not have any injuries which meant that he was the aggressor.
The court found Lorch was not a credible witness and found him guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The sentencing proceedings have been postponed to September 4.
