A 39-year-old man has been sentenced to five life terms for rape by the Bloemfontein Regional Court. The accused, Anthony Watson was sentenced for rape dating back to 2019, this according to Free State police spokesperson, Mahlomola Kareli.
Kareli said, “The court heard that the offenses occurred between 15 May 2019 and 26 February 2023. The State presented evidence detailing the accused’s modus operandi, which involved meeting the victims under various pretenses and then raping them.”
The spokesperson further pointed out that the perpetrator raped multiple women. “In 2019, Watson met a 14-year-old girl, took her to his residence, where he smoked dagga with her and subsequently raped her. In 2023, he encountered a 31-year-old female complainant who requested cigarettes from him. He then took her to his home and raped her as well. On another occasion in 2023, he met a 46-year-old victim at a drug house, provided her with suspected drugs, and then raped her. The same day, he met a 30-year-old victim also at a drug house. After consuming drugs, the complainant asked to bathe at his residence due to a lack of water at her own. He agreed and raped her twice,” he mentioned.
Kareli noted that Watson was known to all the complainants and that the case proved to be challenging due to the victim’s admitted drug use at the time of the incidents.
“After considering all the evidence, the court found 39-year-old Anthony Trevor Watson guilty on all five counts of rape and sentenced him to five life sentences. The court ordered that the sentences for counts four and five run concurrently. Therefore, the accused will effectively serve two life sentences,” he concluded.
Compiled by Clement Matroos
