A 34-year-old man convicted of raping a seven-year-old girl should be sent to prison for life, the Grahamstown High Court heard on Thursday.
Mlandeli Dayimani, of Peddie, was found guilty of raping the girl in Zwide, near Fort Beaufort, on January 21 last year.
The court heard that Dayimani had lured the girl and her 10-year-old friend into the house, threatened the girl with a knife and then raped her as her terrified friend watched.
Appearing before acting Judge Keith Matthee, Dayimani sat silently as senior state advocate Nickie Turner argued for a life sentence to be handed down against him.
”What could be worse than the rape of a little seven-year-old girl while her terrified friend is helpless to intervene, and is forced to watch the ghastly invasion and desecration of her friend’s body?” said Turner.
There can be few, if any, who do not suffer severe medical and psychological consequences as a result of rape.
”We are dealing here with a little girl who was just beginning to train her mind and body. He raped her and robbed her of her precious innocence and her capacity to engage in trust in later life.
”He displayed an extraordinary callous behaviour by selecting her as his victim. He had plenty of opportunities for consensual sex with his girlfriend and other women.”
Turner said the girl’s psychological and emotional prognosis was poor after the court requested a clinical assessment of the child.
”It is indeed a sad and dark day that if this girl is left untreated, she is likely to end up with an anti-social personality disorder. Her physical injuries may heal, but the psychological and emotional damage will probably never.”
Turner said Dayimani has shown no remorse for what he had done and ”not one jot of feeling towards the little girl and her friend”.
Dayimani’s advocate, Craig Renaud, argued that his client should not be given a life sentence, and that a term of 15 years’ imprisonment would be appropriate. ”He is a religious and in full employment, and I submit that he is a good candidate with real prospects of rehabilitation.”
Dayimani could be sentenced on Thursday, but Matthee said he might need more time.
Renaud received his instructions from the Legal Aid Board. — Sapa