Former star provincial cricketer Lorrie Wilmot (59) was sentenced on Monday to nine years in prison, two of which were suspended for five years, for the 1998 rape of a 13-year-old child.
Arguing in mitigation of sentence, Wilmot’s counsel Advocate Terry Price revealed on Monday that the burly former batsman had so far spent more than R470 000 on his defence.
Over a period of four years, the case has travelled through the regional court, Grahamstown High Court and then to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein before being referred back to the regional court.
Wilmot was initially convicted in March 2000 of raping the young girl.
Regional Court magistrate Mzonke Dunywa then sentenced him to 12 years in prison, three of which were suspended for five years.
Wilmot appealed to the High Court here but, in November 2000, a full bench of the court confirmed both the conviction and sentence. Wilmot then took the matter to the Supreme Court of Appeal where he sought to have new evidence introduced.
In an unusual move, the SCA set aside his conviction and sentence and remitted the matter back to the Regional Court to hear the new evidence.
After hearing the new evidence, Dunywa last month again convicted him. But on Monday he decreased Wilmot’s sentence.
Price argued that Wilmot was nearing his 60th birthday. He was divorced and during the course of his trial, had lost ”everything” including his farm which had been in the family for ”many years”.
Wide press coverage had resulted in him being ”embarrassed and humiliated” over the four-year trial. ”The case has cost him R472 000 to date and if it goes further he is looking at another R100 000.”
He said the magistrate must consider the effects of a long jail term for a 60-year-old first offender who would be placed among violent offenders in a prison system known for its ”corruption and chaos”.
”Punish him but don’t destroy him,” he appealed. He said the raped teen had not suffered physical injuries or lasting psychological scars from the rape and appeared to be a confident girl who was ”getting on with her life”.
But prosecutor Advocate Gloria Mjali said rape was a serious offence which had violated and traumatised the girl and an appropriate jail sentence should be imposed.
Dunywa described rape as an epidemic and said the sentence should reflect that this was unacceptable. However, he said after considering the facts, he had deemed it fit to shift from the previous sentence.
Advocate Price gave notice that he intended appealing the conviction. Wilmot’s bail was extended pending the appeal. – Sapa