Windhoek
Judge Alfred Siboleka sent out a strong message on Tuesday that the courts are fed up with people being terrorised in their own homes.
When sentencing convicted serial housebreaker and rapist Pinias Kashawa to a combined 62 years in prison, Judge Siboleka said: “It is here that the court must send a strong message to would-be offenders out there that breaking into people’s houses and robbing them of their property will not be tolerated at all.”
Kashawa was convicted by Judge Siboleka on March 27 on three counts of assault, two counts of housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery, two counts of rape, pointing of a firearm, two counts of attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
During the sentencing the judge noted Kashawa is 43 years old and worked as a construction worker before his arrest.
He said Kashawa has four children whom he supported while he was not in custody.
However, the judge said, when he considered an appropriate sentence for Kashawa he took all these factors into consideration, especially the six years the accused already spent in custody, but the use of a firearm as well as the number of offences he committed on that one night weighed heavily against him.
According to Judge Siboleka the accused went on a crime spree targeting defenceless women and children.
The victims did not expect such disturbances from any person during the middle of the night when everybody is supposed to be asleep, the judge stressed.
He further said the first victim did not even detect the break-in and was only alerted by the switching on of a light and the accused standing there with a gun with which he demanded money, which she did not have.
“Had it not been for the selfless brave police officer who went to rescue the defenceless women victims by shooting the accused in the leg when he caught him in the act, his identity would have remained an unsolved mystery to this day,” the judge remarked.
Judge Siboleka further said Kashawa did not show any remorse for what he had done.
Kashawa has a previous conviction for housebreaking with intent to steal and theft. He stole a firearm, which he used to rob and force his victims into submission and rape them, Judge Siboleka said.
He sentenced Kashawa to two years’ imprisonment for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, six years for each housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery, fifteen years for each rape, two years for pointing of a firearm, four months for assault by threat, six years for attempted murder, four years for housebreaking with intent to steal and theft and six years for possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence.
With none of the sentences ordered to run concurrently Kashawa was sentenced to an effective 62 years in prison.