A 33-year-old man, Jakob Ratel, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court of South Africa, Northern Cape Division, in Kimberley, after being convicted of the murder of his 43-year-old girlfriend, Renée Lachporia.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Ratel was also found guilty of three counts of assault with grievous bodily harm (GBH), receiving an additional three years imprisonment for each count.
The incident took place on May 15, 2021, when Ratel and Lachporia, who were in a relationship and living together in Delportshoop, had an argument over financial issues at a local shebeen.
After leaving, they went to Ratel’s sister’s home, along with another woman who was also in a relationship with Ratel. The argument intensified, leading to Ratel assaulting Lachporia. His sister eventually asked them to leave after witnessing the violence.
Later that night, Ratel returned to his sister’s home and admitted to kicking and trampling on Lachporia’s head. He then went to his mother’s house to confess that he had killed Lachporia, showing his bloodied shoes as evidence. His mother alerted his sister, who was unable to reach Lachporia. Tragically, her body was found two days later, covered with a blanket in her home. Authorities were notified, and Ratel was arrested.
Throughout the trial, Ratel maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to all charges. However, the prosecution successfully declared his mother and sister as hostile witnesses when they contradicted earlier statements they had made about the incident.
During sentencing, Senior State Advocate Anel Stellenberg emphasized that there were no mitigating factors to reduce the sentence, highlighting Ratel’s lack of remorse and his dangerous nature. A Victim Impact Statement underscored the immense grief felt by Lachporia’s family, particularly her two children, who were left without their mother.
The presiding judge ruled that the court must uphold its constitutional duty to address domestic violence and protect victims’ rights. Ratel was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder, with the three assault charges carrying an additional three-year sentence each, to run concurrently.
The NPA welcomed the ruling, reaffirming its commitment to combat domestic violence and ensure that those responsible for such crimes are held accountable.
