Robbers make son watch rape
02/04/2008 08:02 - (SA)
Virginia Keppler, Beeld
Pretoria - A robber raped a woman in front of her six-year-old son shortly after midnight in her home in Pebble Rock Estate in Leeufontein, northeast of Pretoria.
Two other robbers held her bound husband and their five-year-old daughter in the bathroom of the main bedroom.
The family, who were making plans to emigrate to Australia, were attacked in their bedroom.
Police spokesperson Captain Jan Sepato said the 35-year-old woman and her 37-year-old husband woke with a fright when they heard something in their bedroom.
When they jumped up, three armed robbers switched on the light.
The couple was overcome by the robbers and forced to lie down on the bed.
Sepato said: "They asked for money and guns and the man said he had money in one of the cupboards."
Made boy watch rape
The robbers went to the cupboard with the man to get the money.
"The man gave them R5 000 and they took him to the bathroom where one robber kept watch over him."
According to Sepato, the robbers woke the couple's children in their rooms and took them to the main bedroom.
"They took the girl to her father in the bathroom and made the boy lie down next to his mother.
"Then one of the robbers raped the mother in front of the boy."
"The robbers then stole cellphones, two plasma-screen televisions and other valuable items, locked the family in the main bedroom and fled.
"The father wriggled free and called for help."
Second attack on estate
Captain Barend Brits of Kameeldrift police station said the couple were still badly shocked on Tuesday morning.
"We offered them counselling, but they said they would find someone professional themselves."
Another couple was attacked by five robbers in their home on the estate in December last year.
They had managed to keep their bedroom door closed for long enough until their neighbour came to their rescue with his shotgun.
