Alleged rapist and killer of 11-year old denied bail
The young girl's body was found by community members, dumped next to the Tubatse River on September 8. Her body had open wounds that showed she was badly beaten.
BURGERSFORT – The man who allegedly raped and killed an 11-year-old girl was denied bail by the Praktiseer Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Putana Patrick Lephoto’s (31) cases were postponed to November 25, he was remanded in custody.
Lephoto was arrested by the Tubatse SAPS on September 8 in connection with the alleged rape and murder.
The young girl’s body was found by community members, dumped next to the Tubatse River on September 8. Her body had open wounds that showed she was badly beaten.
“It is alleged that on Tuesday September 7 at about 15:00, the young girl was playing with other children outside her home when she saw her mother’s ex-boyfriend passing and approached him,” said Limpopo SAPS spokesperson, Brig Motlafelo Mojapelo.
“The two then left together. It became late, prompting the mother to search for the girl. She was then informed by neighbours that the child was last seen leaving with Lephoto. She reportedly rushed to his house in Bothashoek, but the suspect denied having information about the child’s whereabouts and even assisted the terrified mother in the search.
“The suspect was arrested at his house after he had been positively linked to the incident through forensic evidence.”
The Limpopo police commissioner, Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe, strongly condemned this incident in which “yet again, another vulnerable member of society has fallen victim to heartless individual.” Hadebe thanked Tubatse SAPS members for acting promptly in arresting the suspect. The young girl was buried in Praktiseer Cemetery on Friday.
