A 33-year-old man, Jakob Ratel, has been sentenced to life in prison by the High Court of South Africa, Northern Cape Division, in Kimberley, after being convicted of m*rdering his girlfriend, Renée Lachporia, 43.
On Wednesday, October 16, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced that Ratel was also convicted on three counts of grievous bodily h*rm (GBH) and received an additional three-year prison term for each count.
The incident took place on May 15, 2021, when Ratel and Lachporia, who were in a relationship and lived together in Delportshoop, got into a financial argument at a local shebeen. After leaving, they went to Ratel’s sister’s house along with another girlfriend of the accused, where the conflict escalated into v!olence. Ratel began ass*ulting Lachporia, prompting his sister to ask them to leave.
Two hours later, Ratel confessed to his sister that he had kicked and trampled on Lachporia’s head, demonstrating the brvtality of the act.
After this conversation, he informed his mother that he had k!lled Lachporia, and she noticed bl*od on his shoes. His mother then contacted his sister to check on Lachporia.
Regrettably, after several failed attempts to contact Lachporia, her body was found two days later at her home, covered with a blanket. The police were called, and she was declared dead shortly afterward. Ratel was consequently arrested for her m*rder.
Despite the trial, Ratel pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution effectively presented evidence leading to both his mother and sister being declared hostile witnesses after they recanted previous statements made about the event.
During sentencing, Senior State Advocate Anel Stellenberg argued that there were no compelling reasons to deviate from a life sentence. She underscored Ratel’s lack of remorse, noting his claim of self-defense despite admitting to the m*rder.
The state emphasized Ratel’s threat to society and the need for his removal. The prosecutor submitted a Victim Impact Statement highlighting the deep sorrow of Lachporia’s family, especially her two children, who are now without their mother due to Ratel’s actions.
In her ruling, the presiding judge stated the court’s duty to address domestic v!olence-related mvrders and protect victims’ constitutional rights.
The judge sentenced Ratel to life imprisonment for mvrder and an additional three years for each of the assault charges, with all sentences to run concurrently.
The NPA welcomed the judgment, reinforcing its commitment to tackling domestic violence and ensuring severe consequences for such crimes. It remains dedicated to seeking justice for victims and advocating for harsher penalties for offenders.