Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Western Cape High Court has handed down a life term and 10 year prison sentence to convicted murderer and rapist Revticken Muller.
Muller was sentenced for the rape and murder of Bianca Matroos.
A month ago, the court handed down judgment for the crimes he committed on 15 November 2019, after a night out at a nightclub in George.
Muller was sentenced to life imprisonment for premeditated murder and 10 years imprisonment for rape. The two sentences would run concurrently, and he is effectively sentenced to life imprisonment.
The conviction and sentence followed an intense investigation by police who backtracked the movements of Matroos and Muller, using CCTV footage from the nightclub to where her naked body was found at the George Riding Club.
During the trial, the prosecutor, advocate Evadne Kortje, told the court that Muller met the 37-year-old Matroos at Club Nitro in George on 14 November 2019.
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In the early hours of the following day, Muller forced her into a vehicle and drove off with his friends.
She was last seen with Muller, and her body was discovered on 17 November 2019, between two concrete blocks in the unkempt grounds of the George Riding Club. Muller was arrested seven days later by police at the same club where he met Matroos.
Judge Elize Steyn said in her judgment: “The deceased, a small, slender, young woman was viscously and brutally murdered. How callous was the accused of returning to the club about a week later even wearing similar clothing.”
Steyn added:
Steyn said that after weighing the evidence of the witnesses against that of Muller’s, as well as careful consideration of the totality of the evidence, she found the State’s case was “credible, probable and consistent, supported by other evidence and video footage”.
“The evidence of all the State witnesses is accepted. I am satisfied that the State has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused raped and murdered Bianca Matroos. I find that he had direct intent not only to rape her, but also to murder her.”
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Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Nicolette Bell, welcomed the sentence.
“Our concerted efforts to fight gender-based violence are bearing fruit as the courts are handing down heavy sentences, which fit the heinous crimes committed by accused persons. We know that the wounds of the Matroos family are not yet healed, but we hope that they will find solace knowing that this accused will be in prison for a long time for the crimes he committed on their loved one,” she said.
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