A GARIES man, 34, has been sentenced to 10 years in the mang after viciously beating his 17-year-old girlfriend.
The klein Namaqualand dorpie was rocked to the core when Darryl Joseph attacked the minor outside her cousin’s home with a dropper paal - a pole used to put up fencing - on 15 October 2022.
According National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane, the victim jolling with chommies in Paulshoek, Garies, when Joseph arrived and called her outside.
He started beating her with a dropper pole in the face and body. The complainant attempted to flee, but Joseph chased her down and continued his assault.
Despite attempts by the complainant’s cousin and friends to keer, Joseph, kept on assaulting her. The accused also forced her to sleep with him that night.
The next morning the young girl managed to escape and registered a case against him The accused was arrested, subsequently.
In the meantime, the victim was admitted to hospital to underwent medical surgery to her face. The attack left her with multiple injuries, including severe facial fractures requiring surgical treatment.
On 31 March 2025, Joseph was sentenced in the Garies Regional Court.
Following consultation with the complainant and investigating officer, warrant officer, Anthea Cloete-Landrew, the regional court prosecutor, Basil “The Jaguar” Kock, entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the defence.
Joseph received 10 years direct imprisonment for assault with the intent to commit grievous bodily harm and was declared unfit to work with children and to own a firearm.