A 33-year-old Eastern Cape man who escaped from police custody in August has been sentenced to three life terms in prison on two counts of rape and murder.
Sipho Kula, of Newlands near Mdantsane, was convicted in the East London High Court in August for raping two teenage girls and murdering a 27-year-old man.
The crimes were committed in Kwetyana location, Newlands in 2012, 2013 and this year.
He escaped from the back of a police van while on his way to be sentenced.
A police manhunt tracked him three days later to a village near his home where he was re-arrested.
Police later said they launched an internal investigation into how a handcuffed Kula was able to open the door of the van and flee unnoticed.
Although his escape delayed his sentencing, on Monday Judge Belinda Hartle finally handed down the hefty sentence.
Mdantsane police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku said: “Kula raped a 14-year-old girl in Kwetyana location, in October 2012.
“The second rape occurred during the time when Kula was still at large for the first rape. He raped a 16-year-old girl at her Kwetyana home in June 2013.”
Mzuku said in the third incident, Kula hacked a fellow villager to death after a lengthy argument on February 1.
“The accused was later arrested and linked to both rapes through DNA results.
“The investigators presented well-investigated evidence, which persuaded Judge Belinda Hartle to sentence the accused to three life sentences,” said Mzuku.
He said the families of the victims had welcomed the sentence.
The commander of the Mdantsane FCS Lieutenant-Colonel Bukelwa Maqhubela, commended her members for a sterling job.
She said: “I am pleased with the commitment, dedication and hard work shown by my members.” — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Triple life sentence for convicted rapist, murderer
Sipho Kula, of Newlands near Mdantsane, was convicted in the East London High Court in August for raping two teenage girls and murdering a 27-year-old man.
The crimes were committed in Kwetyana location, Newlands in 2012, 2013 and this year.
He escaped from the back of a police van while on his way to be sentenced.
A police manhunt tracked him three days later to a village near his home where he was re-arrested.
Police later said they launched an internal investigation into how a handcuffed Kula was able to open the door of the van and flee unnoticed.
Although his escape delayed his sentencing, on Monday Judge Belinda Hartle finally handed down the hefty sentence.
Mdantsane police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku said: “Kula raped a 14-year-old girl in Kwetyana location, in October 2012.
“The second rape occurred during the time when Kula was still at large for the first rape. He raped a 16-year-old girl at her Kwetyana home in June 2013.”
Mzuku said in the third incident, Kula hacked a fellow villager to death after a lengthy argument on February 1.
“The accused was later arrested and linked to both rapes through DNA results.
“The investigators presented well-investigated evidence, which persuaded Judge Belinda Hartle to sentence the accused to three life sentences,” said Mzuku.
He said the families of the victims had welcomed the sentence.
The commander of the Mdantsane FCS Lieutenant-Colonel Bukelwa Maqhubela, commended her members for a sterling job.
She said: “I am pleased with the commitment, dedication and hard work shown by my members.” — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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