Duo sentenced to a total of 80 years in prison – judge accuses couple of covering up for possible third rapist

A judge of the Western Cape High Court believes that a third person was involved in the rape and murder of Janika Mello.

The two men were found guilty of raping and beating the 14-year-old girl to death. On Friday they were sentenced to a total of 80 years in prison.

Leeroy Rose and Allester Abraham appeared calm as Judge Pearl Andrews explained the provisions of the Child Justice Act and the implications of the sentence, saying there were reasons to depart from the mandatory minimum sentences.

Janika, who was in Year 6 at Northwood Primary School in Woodlands, took part in a karaoke in support of a local football club at Portlands High School on August 31, 2019.

She was later dropped off by a taxi near her home in Heinz Park, and the next morning her half-naked body was found in her backyard.

An autopsy report revealed that the teenager had suffered numerous vaginal and anal injuries, and crime scene photographs showed several used condoms at the scene.

During the trial, Rose turned against his co-defendant, claiming that he saw Abraham throw a rock at Janika’s head.

The two were found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of murder.

During the hearing on Friday, prosecutor Bonginkosi Maki said Rose should be sentenced to 25 years in prison, while Abraham should receive a life sentence for his crimes.

He argued that Rose should be shown mercy because he was 16 at the time of the murder.

Maki accused Rose of abusing the trust of Janika’s family, who viewed him as a house child.

In sentencing, Judge Andrews said she believed Rose had concealed the identity of another person who might have raped Janika, citing the number of condoms found at the crime scene.

She said: “Defendant 1 knows more about what happened that night.”

Andrews said the two worked together to overpower, rape and kill the teenager.

She added: “The manner in which Janika was killed was particularly cruel. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head and neck and the resulting consequences.”

“Due to the severity of her injuries, she was unrecognizable as she had been beaten to death.

“As if that wasn’t enough, she was also sexually abused. The level of disrespect shown by her attackers is shown by the fact that they did not even cover her naked body.”

The judge said she believed both defendants could be rehabilitated.

Rose was sentenced to 20 years in prison for murder and received an additional 20 years for both rape counts.

Abraham received a similar sentence, but an additional eight months for assault.

The sentences will be served concurrently and the duo will spend a total of 20 years in prison. Judge Andrews also ordered that their names be placed on the national sex offenders register and that they be declared unfit to work with children in the future.

Janika’s aunt, Waliswa Constable, said they were pleased with the outcome and believed the court had given the harshest sentence it could impose given the age of the killers at the time of the crime.

She said: “We are happy with the result.”