Windhoek – The man accused of the brutal rape and genital mutilation of a woman in the Rehoboth Post Office on December 3, 2010, denied all charges in the Windhoek High Court yesterday.
Franklin Savage, 39, appeared before Judge Dinah Usiku on charges of rape, kidnapping, using means to overcome a female for immoral purposes and two counts of rape.
He informed the court he is denying all charges and will put the State to prove each and every count.
On the first rape charge, it is alleged that Savage raped the complainant – who may not be named – near the Rehoboth Primary School on or about November 28, 2010.
According to the indictment, Savage asked the woman for a lighter or matches while she was walking home after a night out.
When she informed him that she did not have a lighter or matches, he allegedly kicked her from behind causing her to fall to the ground.
He then proceeded to have sexual intercourse with the complainant against her will, it is stated in the indictment.
In the second incident that sent shockwaves through the community of Rehoboth, it is alleged Savage grabbed the victim from behind while she was walking home.
He then allegedly threw her over his shoulder and carried her to the post office where he assaulted her and poured a substance in her mouth when she tried to scream for help.
The unknown substance caused her to pass out, it is stated in the indictment. Savage allegedly pushed a bottle or other object into the anus of the complainant, according to the indictment as well as committing a sexual act with her against her will.
Witnesses took the stand yesterday and all of them identified Savage as the man they saw running away from the scene.
Jesmerille (Jessy) Lewin testified she was on her way home with some friends when they heard a woman scream from the direction of the post office.
When they went to investigate they saw a man, light in colour and wearing dark jeans and a T-shirt and carrying his shoes in his hands coming from the post office.
She said when they entered the building, they discovered the complainant covered in blood and crying for help.
“I put on my cellphone’s light and I saw blood everywhere, on the lady, around her and underneath her,” the witness said.
Another witness, Ilge van Wyk, testified that the woman was crying out for help.
“She wanted us to help her sit up, as she did not want to lie there all exposed and hurting,” Van Wyk informed the court and added that she and a friend tried their best to console the complainant and told her to be patient, as the ambulance and police were on their way.
Horetius Diergaardt, who claimed to have witnessed the rape on November 28, told the court that he happened upon Savage while he was driving his workers home that evening.
“As I was driving past Rehoboth Primary School, I heard a lady crying out for help and I reversed my vehicle and shined the light to where I heard the cry coming from,” he told the court.
He said that he then saw a man getting up from a woman with his pants below his knees.
The man then pulled up his pants and started to walk away with him following after he called the police, Diergaardt stated. After the police arrived he handed the man, whom he identified as Savage, over to the police, he said and continued that the next time he saw the man again was on the night of December 3, 2010 when Savage allegedly told him ‘jy is die ou wat my in die tronk gesit het’ (you are the man who put me in jail). According to the witness, he just ignored Savage and later saw him walking from the bar with the complainant with his hand across her shoulders.
The case continues with State Advocate Cliff Luthibezi appearing on behalf of the State and Savage is represented by Bronell Uirab on instructions from the Directorate of Legal Aid.
Savage remains in custody.
by Roland Routh