The Pretoria High Court has just sentenced a 37-year-old Welverdiend resident, near Carletonville, to two life terms for raping and murdering his eight-day-old daughter.

Carletonville Herald reports that Hugo Ferreira, who pleaded guilty, received a life sentence for murder and another for rape. His name must also be entered into the national registry of sex offenders.

While sentencing Ferreira, Judge Portia Dipuo Phahlane said there was sufficient and acceptable evidence to impose the maximum sentence for each crime. She also considered the extreme violence and cruelty involved.

“This was a cruel crime that should not happen to any human being. It is utterly terrifying that children cannot play without freedom or fear. Such crimes cannot be tolerated,” she said, stressing that the right to life is the most fundamental human right.

Phahlane ruled that the murder was premeditated, that Ferreira showed no remorse, and that he could not be rehabilitated.

“He knew he was going to kill the deceased and went on with his plan to kill her,” she said.

She noted that Ferreira ‘was stingy with the truth and downplayed his part in her death’.

Graphic content warning: Sensitive readers be advised

The child’s injuries included various injuries to her private parts and anal areas and there was a needle mark in her left groin.

There was also damage to the baby’s thyroid bone, which shows that she might have been strangled.

The injuries showed that Ferreira had taken out his frustration with the child’s mother out on the child and had thrown her on the ground several times after the mother had left the baby in his care.

She added that the court has a duty to hand out severe standardised sentence according to a decision by Legislature unless there is evidence that a lighter sentence can be given.

Phahlane stressed that gender-based violence cannot be tolerated.

He has a violent history

Ferreira previously stated that he would kill his former wife if he was released on probation because he believed that they let him down. There was also a possibility that he would kill the baby’s mother.

Ferreira was raised by his maternal grandparents and remained in his grandmother’s care after his grandfather passed away.

He was married for four years but later set fire to the house he shared with his former wife.

He and the child’s mother had both been using drugs, and he was diagnosed as a psychopath at Sterkfontein Hospital. He had a history of substance abuse, having started using drugs while still in school. He had also used crystal meth on the day of his crimes.

Ferreira had assaulted his mother numerous times when she refused to give him money for drugs. She testified that she was afraid of him.

She also testified that she had spoiled him in the past and had even offered to take in the little girl who was later murdered. The child was her only grandchild.

She agreed that he must be punished for his actions.

Ferreira has five previous convictions: Theft and using counterfeit money in 2017, malicious damage to property in 2021, and theft and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm in 2022.

Advocates Andre Wilsenach and Karla Germishuis prosecuted the case.

Justice served, but…

“I feel that justice has been done, but it will never bring back the little girl,” said investigating officer Captain Jacques Nagel of the Carletonville Detectives.

A large group from the gender-based violence advocacy group Gender-Based Violence Brigade attended the proceedings.

“What is wrong with our society? What can be done to stop further incidents like this?” asked Maria Ramatsie of the group.

* The article has been amended since it was first published, as it has been confirmed that Ferreira did not previously state he would kill his mother.

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