NEWS
Life for serial rapist: SERIAL RAPIST SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

The Western Cape office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of Johannes Mowers (33), at the Cape High Court today 30 July 2008. His effective sentence will be that of life imprisonment for the rape of a minor whom he abducted. This conviction followed after a successful plea and sentence agreement negotiations between the state and the defence. The process of plea and sentence agreement has ensured in this case that the costs involved in a lengthy trial were diminished. As a result of the plea and sentence agreement, the victims of the offence most of which are minors were also spare the trauma of having to give evidence in court.



Today 30 July 2008 Mr. Mowers was found guilty and was sentenced to direct imprisonment on 28 charges which include the following in chronological order:



Rape of a minor - 18 years
Housebreaking with the intent to assault and assault - 12 months
House breaking with the intent to rape - 15 years
Attempted kidnapping - 12 months
House breaking with the intent to rob (aggravating circumstances) - 15 years
Rape - 18 years
Housebreaking with the intent to rob - and robbery (aggravating) - 15 years
Housing breaking with the intent to rape and rape - 15 years
Abduction - 5 years
Attempted rape - 5 years
Malicious damage to property - 2 years
Abduction - 12 years
Rape over a period of a minor - life imprisonment
House breaking with the intent to rob (aggravating) - 15 years
Rape - 20 years
Housebreaking with the intent to steal and theft - 18 months
Housebreaking with the intent to commit an offence unknown to the state - 2 years
House breaking with the intent to kidnap and kidnapping - 12 months
Housebreaking with the intent to steal and theft - 18 months
Housebreaking with the intent to steal and theft - 18 months
Housebreaking with the intent to rape and rape - 20 years
Robbery (aggravating circumstances) - 15 years
Housebreaking with the intent to rob and robbery - 5 years
Housebreaking with the intent to steal and theft - 18 months
Housebreaking with the intent to steal and theft - 18 months
Housebreaking to commit an offence unknown to the state - 12 months
Illegal possession of a firearm - 2 years
Illegal possession of ammunition - 12 months


The proceedings were conducted before Judge H Erasmus on behalf of the state appeared Advocate N A Bell and Advocate E A Kortje.



Mr. Mowers who was on the run from authorities for three years was arrested by police in March last year. One of his victims, a minor was abducted from her parents' home in the Diepgat Farm on the 27 December 2005 and held in underground hideaway in Hemel en Aarde Valley in Hermanus.



On the day he was apprehended Mowers had broken into a house on Nuwepos Farm in Ertjiesvlei. A farm worker, who realised who he was and that he was drunk, gave him more alcohol until he passed out and then called the farm owner, who in turn contacted the police.



"The Director of Public Prosecution Advocate Rodney de Kock commends members of the South African Police Service for working tirelessly in tracking down the perpetrator of this crime."



Special tribute should be paid to his victims who showed real bravery in their willingness to giving evidence in court but also later in consenting to the proposed plea and sentence agreement. This dangerous offender has been taken off the streets for a significant period of time because of the victims' courage and perseverance.



The case was jointly investigated by Provincial Organised Crime Unit. The local members of the South African Police Service of Hermanus and Caledon and the public prosecutors should also be commended for their contribution to the successful investigation and apprehension of the perpetrator in this case.



The communities' active participation towards the apprehension of Mr. Mowers should be applauded.



This sends out a loud and clear message that the National Prosecuting Authority ensures justice for the victims of crime by prosecuting without fear, favour and prejudice and by working with partners and the public to solve and prevent crimes.



Issued by the Western Cape Regional Communications Manager

Sandy Godlwana


 

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