Cape Town – A rape victim in the case against convicted child killer Jerome Amerika will be recalled to testify in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday.
Last week, Amerika was convicted of raping and murdering 10-year-old Shamonique Claasen in February in Paarl this year.
He was also convicted of raping his girlfriend in April 2015.
Shamonique Claasen was murdered the day before her 11th birthday. Her body was found by her family several days after she went missing. Amerika had hidden her body, wrapped in a blanket and tied up with wire, under his bed.
On Wednesday, Judge Robert Henney said the rape victim had not laid a charge against Amerika at the time and instead forgave him and took him back. Henney said he had to question her about that decision before he decided on an appropriate sentence.
State prosecutor Maria Marshall said the rape victim could have been suffering from battered woman syndrome.
Family and friends of Shamonique gathered on the steps of the high court on Wednesday morning carrying placards calling for Amerika to be sentenced to life behind bars.