YOUTHS GUILTY OF RAPING TOURISTS

Five youths were found guilty in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday of raping, robbing and kidnapping three tourists who visited northern KwaZulu-Natal in October 1998. DNA evidence linked the five to items of clothing worn by the women on the day of the attack. Goods belonging to the tourists were also found on their possession and in their homes. The tourists’ names and their country of origin cannot be mentioned according to an order made by the presiding judge at the start of the trial. The state argued on Tuesday for the court to impose six life sentences on each accused for the counts of rape. Sentences will be imposed on Wednesday.