Man Sentenced To Life Imprisonment Over Girlfriend's Murder

The High Court of South Africa, Northern Cape Division, in Kimberley, has sentenced a 33-year-old man, Jakob Ratel, to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of killing his girlfriend, Renée Lachporia, 43.
 
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in a statement on Wednesday, October 16, said that Ratel was also convicted on three counts of assault with grievous bodily harm (GBH) and sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment for each count.
 
The incident occurred on 15 May 2021, when Ratel and Lachporia, who were in a relationship and living together in Delportshoop, were at a local shebeen when an argument broke out over financial matters. After leaving the shebeen, they proceeded to Ratel's sister’s house, accompanied by another girlfriend of the accused, where the argument escalated into physical violence. Ratel’s sister eventually ordered them to leave after he began to assault Lachporia.
 
Approximately two hours later, Ratel returned to his sister’s home and confessed to her that he had kicked and trampled on Lachporia’s head, indicating the severity of his actions.
 
Following this disturbing conversation, he visited his mother to inform her that he had killed Lachporia. His mother noticed that Ratel's shoes were bloodied, prompting her to contact his sister to check on the victim.
 
Unfortunately, after several attempts to reach Lachporia went unanswered, her body was discovered two days later, covered with a blanket in her home. The police were called to the scene, and she was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Ratel was arrested for the murder of Lachporia.
 
Despite his trial, Ratel pleaded not guilty to all charges. The state successfully presented evidence to have both his mother and sister declared hostile witnesses after they denied earlier statements made regarding the incident.
 
During sentencing, Senior State Advocate Anel Stellenberg argued vehemently that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances that would justify deviating from the prescribed sentence of life imprisonment.
 
She emphasized that Ratel showed no remorse for his actions, claiming self-defence while admitting to killing the victim. The state highlighted Ratel's dangerousness and the necessity to remove him from society.
 
In support of the prosecution's case, the prosecutor submitted a Victim Impact Statement that illustrated the profound grief experienced by Lachporia's family, particularly her two children, who are now without their mother due to Ratel's senseless actions.
 
In her ruling, the Honourable presiding Judge stated that the court must uphold its constitutional mandate to address murders arising from domestic relationships and to protect the constitutional rights of victims.
 
The judge imposed a life sentence for the murder charge and an additional 3-year sentence for the three counts of assault, all to run concurrently with the life sentence.
 
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes this ruling, reinforcing its resolve to combat domestic violence and ensure that individuals who commit such heinous crimes face severe consequences. The NPA remains committed to pursuing justice for victims of crime and advocating for harsher sentences for perpetrators.