Nat Molomo

 MASERU — The High Court has ordered that a serial rapist who is facing life in jail should have his sanity evaluated before he is sentenced.

Bereng Moshoeshoe, 34, was convicted of raping a 10-year-old girl in Mohale’s Hoek in April.

However the Mohale’s Hoek Magistrate’s Court referred the case to the High Court because he has previous rape convictions.

The crown is arguing that Moshoeshoe, who has been convicted of rape four times in the past nine years, should be sentenced to life in prison.

But Justice Gabriel Mofolo last week said he wanted Moshoeshoe to undergo a psychiatric assessment before he sentences him.

“I have considered the matter that it is legitimate to apply my discretion during mitigation and before sentence if there is doubt about the nature of physical and mental (status) of the accused,” Justice Mofolo said.

The judge said Moshoeshoe had behaved oddly for a sexual offender.

He said the convict looked absent-minded during the court proceedings.

For a sexual offender, the judge said, such behaviour was bizarre.

He said he would only make a ruling on the matter when he has a doctor’s report on Moshoeshoe’s condition.

The accused has been remanded to appear in court on December 13 when the court is expected to have the results of the psychiatric examination.

Moshoeshoe’s lawyer, Letzadzo Kometsi, pleaded with the court to impose a lenient sentence.