With the world gearing up for South Africa’s highest profile court case ever, the spotlight will be on Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa as she takes charge of Oscar Pistorius’ case. During her 15 year experience as a judge she has had many high profile cases but this one will be a greater challenge with world media looking on.

Two of Judge Masipa’s previous judgments have gained attention with regards to Pistorius’ case, in which she handed down maximum sentences to men convicted of violence against women. In the “Moyo trial,” she sentenced the culprit of three rapes and a string of house robberies, to 252 years in jail. She deemed that the accused showed no remorse and felt that rehabilitation would be of no use.

The worst in my view is that he attacked and raped the victims in the sanctity of their own homes where they thought they were safe,” she said.

The second judgement the media have focused on concerns the case of policeman Freddy Mashamba, who in 2009 shot and killed his wife after row over their divorce settlement. She handed down a life imprisonment sentence to the policeman. 

No one is above the law. You deserve to go to jail for life because you are not a protector. You are a killer,” Masipa said.

The trail is due to start 3 March and will have an expected 300 journalist present.

[ Source : News24 ]