Life imprisonment for Mariental serial rapist and murderer

WINDHOEK, 18 SEP  – A Mariental resident who admitted to committing various serious criminal offences ranging from murder to rape during a series of housebreaking incidents committed in the Hardap Region, was on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment.
High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg handed down the sentence on Tuesday.
Gerold Henly Matlata, 34, was sent to jail for life over the death of Mariental resident Debora Snyman, 53, when he killed the victim by strangling her to death with a T-shirt after breaking into her house.
In terms of Namibia’s Correctional Service Act of 2012, someone sentenced to life imprisonment after 15 August 1999, would only be eligible to be considered for release on parole or probation after serving at least 25 years in prison without committing or being convicted of any crime or offence during that period.
In addition, Matlata was sentenced to various other long custodial terms on the two counts of attempted murder, two charges of housebreaking with intent to rape and rape, a count of theft and a charge of housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
On the two charges of attempt to kill two other women, Matlata was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on each of count. On the two charges of housebreaking with intent to rape and rape, Matlata was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on each count.
He also received a two-year jail term on the theft charge.
On the charge of housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances, Matlata was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.
Evidence presented during trial has it that Matlata initially raped and killed Snyman before he again raped, robbed and attempted to kill two other women at Mariental after he broke into their homes.
He also stole Snyman’s handbag.
The attacks on the victims took place between the period of 29 June 2012 and 19 September 2015.
Matlata will serve his sentence at the Windhoek Central Correctional Facility.
Government-funded defence lawyer, Gert Appollus represented Matlata while State Advocate Martino Olivier handled the prosecution’s case.

NAMPA