Victim allegedly attacked by Uyinene’s killer says she recognised him in media reports
Luyanda Botha, serving a life sentence after entering a plea deal in 2019 for the rape and murder of Uyinene Mrwetyana, is back on trial for the attempted rape of a 21-year-old nursing student in Athlone in 2014.
Luyanda Botha, who stands accused of raping and murdering 19-year-old student Uyinene Mrwetyana, appears at Wynberg Magistrates Court on 5 November 2019. Picture: Lizell Persens/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - A victim allegedly attacked by the man convicted of the rape and murder of 19-year-old University of Cape Town (UCT) student Uyinene Mrwetyana in 2019 said she recognised Luyanda Botha in media reports following the Mrwetyana case.
Botha made an appearance in Wynberg Magistrates Court on Friday.
He is back on trial for the attempted rape of a 21-year-old nursing student in Athlone in 2014.
Botha has been serving a life sentence after entering a plea deal in 2019 for the rape and murder of Mrwetyana.
Botha allegedly went to visit his girlfriend at a nursing college in Athlone when he found the victim taking a bath.
Prosecutors said he attempted to rape the woman, but she fought him off. The victim laid a complaint at Nyanga police station.
State witness Oscar Dada, who is a police sergeant serving in the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit, told the court he was the initial investigating officer who took the victim's statement.
Dada said the victim initially attended a few court proceedings before disappearing. The matter was then struck from the roll.
The officer testified the victim phoned him in 2019 after recognising her alleged attacker in media coverage related to another rape case - the rape and murder of Mrwetyana.
Another State witness is set to provide testimony in court later on Friday.