16 Years later: Sentencing date set for Cytheria Rex murder case
Cytheria Rex was murdered 16 years ago.
Image: file
A sentencing date will finally be set for the murder case of Cytheria Rex - 16 years later.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Eric Ntabazalila confirmed this week that a decision for a sentencing date is expected to be delivered on Friday, June 20, in the Strand Magistrate's Court.
It has taken more than eight months for this to be achieved after Rex's killers were convicted in November 2024.
The matter has been marred by delays due to the outstanding probation report, which was finally submitted last month and includes testimonials and statements from her family members.
Rex's mother, Jacqueline Rex, said she knows the case will reach finality.
“They are starting with their postponements again but I am trusting God and I know that this is done.”
Virgil Sass, Oswill Grootboom, Imeraan Hendricks, Lee Cloete, and Rhonwan Rhode who were convicted for 17-year-old Rex’s February 2009 murder in Kraaifontein, are expected to be in the dock at the Strand Magistrate's Court.
The case has been postponed more than 115 times and is believed to be the longest running trial in history in South Africa.
Rex was stabbed more than 30 times and raped.
During judgment, the Magistrate detailed how the group all played a role in her death following a party at Sass’s home and had tried to get rid of the body by throwing it over the wall and when they were not successful they placed her into a wheelie bin and dumped her body onto a field.
DNA evidence including a crucial testimony from a witness sealed the men’s fate.
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