Man convicted of rape and murder of Amantle Samane (6) handed 2 life sentences

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC INFORMATION

JOHANNEBSURG - The man who raped and murdered six-year-old Amantle Samane has been handed two life sentences.

Phete Simiao (25) pleaded guilty to violating the child in October last year.

He also pleaded guilty to murdering her, saying it was to conceal the rape.

The child's lifeless body was found in Simiao's shack in Orlando east, Soweto, where she was raped.

Cheers resounded from the gallery in the Johannesburg High Court on Monday, as Judge William Karam sentenced Simiao to life behind bars, a plea that the Orlando east community and Samane’s family have had since the start of the trial last year.

The Mozambican national faced charges of kidnapping, murder, rape and contravening immigration laws by being in the country illegally.

In a detailed sentencing, Judge Karam handed him two years each for kidnapping and contravening the Immigration Act.

“Count 2 murder, you are sentenced to life imprisonment. Count 3, the rape of the minor child, you are sentenced to life.”

The sentences will run concurrently, making Simiao’s sanction an effective life sentence.