Life for man who raped, murdered Amantle, 6

THE man convicted of raping and murdering six-year-old Amantle Samane was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Johannesburg High Court yesterday.

- ROBIN-LEE FRANCKE robin [e-mail]

Phethe Simiao, 25, a Mozambican national, was convicted after pleading guilty to kidnapping, rape, murder, and contravening the Immigration Act for crimes against the young girl from Orlando East in October last year.

In his plea explanation, which was read out by his legal counsel, Simiao provided in-depth details of his crimes against Amantle.

Simiao explained that he was under the influence of alcohol, and he had strangled the young girl in an attempt to conceal the rape. During the trial, the court heard Amantle’s mother and the community were searching for her, and a witness, who saw the child with Simiao, alerted the community after seeing the child walking with him and knowing he was not a relative.

Upon arriving at the shack, community members discovered Amantle’s half-naked body on the floor.