Rape victims should preserve DNA evidence for a successful conviction

A man from Evander was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for attempting to rape his niece (6) in 2015, Ridge Times reports.

The 32-year-old man claimed he was drunk when he crawled into the little girl’s bed that was on the floor in her parents’ bedroom.

The child’s back was towards her uncle.

According to the testimony in court, the man tried to pull down the girl’s underwear but eventually ejaculated into her panties.

The uncle pleaded guilty to the charges in 2016 and was kept in police custody since his arrest.

The six years he was slapped with, will follow on the time he had already spent in prison.

Warrant Officer Gloudie Sachse from the Family Violence Police’s unit, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS), said the conviction was possible because of the DNA found on the girl’s underwear.

She urged rape victims to immediately seek help from people such as the police’s Curamus Victim Support group.

“As horrible as it may sound, a rape victim should not wash herself or her clothes before she has reported the attack to the police and was examined. If you wish, you destroy any DNA evidence that can secure a conviction of the perpetrator,” explained Captain Liz Koekemoer from FCS.

Any item with DNA on, such as underwear, tissues and clothes, can be wrapped in newspaper and handed to the police.

All rape kits are done at state hospitals.

Contact Curamus Victim Support at 079 114 9592.