Man handed life term for drinking, raping woman, and hiding her body.

On the fateful day, Prins and Cloete spent their time consuming alcohol with others at a place known as the Koffie Shop, an empty building without doors or windows located next to the N7 National Road. Mojalefa Senokoatsane, the NPA spokesperson, recounted that throughout the day, the two engaged in drinking. At some point, Prins, visibly intoxicated, went to her sister's residence, pleading with her to spend the night there. Despite her sister's concern, Prins declined, leaving the premises and reuniting with Cloete, marking the last time her sister saw her alive.

The morning of December 30 brought worry and distress as Prins' sister, unable to reach Cloete by phone, began searching for her missing sibling. Hours later, the family received the devastating news that Prins' lifeless body was discovered inside the Koffie Shop. The police, upon arriving at the scene, found the naked body wrapped in a blanket with her clothes nearby. Investigating Officer Warrant Officer Barnard noticed footprints and dragging marks during the preliminary examination, suggesting an attempt to erase evidence with nearby bushes.

During the trial, Cloete adamantly denied any involvement in the heinous crime, claiming that he had consensual sex with Prins. However, the court dismissed Cloete's version as false and implausible. Further complicating his defense, the police confiscated Cloete's shoes at the scene, suspecting a match with the footprints found. Subsequent DNA analysis confirmed that Cloete had indeed engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim.

As the trial progressed, Cloete maintained his innocence, asserting that he had left Prins with another man, and that was the last time he saw her. The court, however, rejected his testimony, deeming it neither credible nor possibly true. Cloete's arrest occurred on the scene, as he was caught attempting to flee from another part of the Koffie Shop.

This long-awaited verdict provides a measure of closure for the family of Katrina Prins, who was brutally taken from them over a decade ago. The sentencing of Derrick Ettiene Cloete to life in prison serves as a somber reminder that justice may be delayed, but in some cases, it is eventually served.

Source: NBC