The Atamelang Regional Court in North West has sentenced a 31-year-old man to life imprisonment for the murder of his three-year-old child.
The court has also ruled that Jacob Molebo was unfit to possess a firearm.
The horrifying incident unfolded on October 22 2020. Molebo, who was in a relationship with the child’s mother, inexplicably turned violent and snatched the infant from her arms.
Hurled baby against a wall
According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s spokesperson Sivenathi Gunya, without warning or provocation, Molebo hurled the baby against a concrete wall of a neighbouring house, inflicting fatal injuries.
The mother, devastated and in shock, was left alone to seek help. Gunya said the neighbours assisted in rushing the baby to a nearby clinic, but it was too late. The child was declared dead on arrival.
The court heard that Molebo fled the scene and evaded police for three days before being arrested. He has remained in custody since his arrest.
During sentencing, the court heard chilling details of the crime. This underscored the defencelessness of the victim and the senseless brutality of the act. The judge described Molebo’s actions as “inhumane”.
Not guilty plea
Molebo pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder. In aggravation of the sentence, state prosecutor, Advocate Edward Manicus, argued against deviations presented by the defence.
He argued for life imprisonment to be imposed. And he submitted that there were no compelling and substantial circumstances adduced by the defence for the court to deviate from the applicable minimum sentence.
Magistrate Stephan du Toit emphasised the court’s duty to protect vulnerable members of society. He noted the alarming prevalence of murder against women and children in the area. Du Toit agreed with the state and sentenced the accused to life imprisonment.
