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South Africa: Four men get 18 years for killing lesbian | South Africa: Four men get 18 years for killing lesbian |
(40 minutes later) | |
Four South African men have been sentenced to 18 years in jail for stabbing and stoning to death 19-year-old lesbian Zoliswa Nkonyana in 2006. | Four South African men have been sentenced to 18 years in jail for stabbing and stoning to death 19-year-old lesbian Zoliswa Nkonyana in 2006. |
The court found that the men killed Ms Nkonyana because she was living openly as a lesbian. | The court found that the men killed Ms Nkonyana because she was living openly as a lesbian. |
A crowd outside the court in Khayelitsha, a Cape Town township, cheered and danced at the sentencing. | A crowd outside the court in Khayelitsha, a Cape Town township, cheered and danced at the sentencing. |
The constitution protects people on the grounds of sexual orientation - but homophobia is widespread. | The constitution protects people on the grounds of sexual orientation - but homophobia is widespread. |
Lubabalo Ntlabathi, Sicelo Mase, Luyanda Londzi and Mbulelo Damba - who were convicted in October - were each given 18 years. | |
Their jail terms were each suspended for five years. | |
Five other people were acquitted. | Five other people were acquitted. |
Ms Nkonyana was stoned and stabbed nine times in February 2006, just metres from her home in Khayelitsha. | |
The magistrate said it was clear the motive for the killing was hatred and homophobia - and Wednesday's sentence was meant to send out a signal that violence based on sexual orientation will not be tolerated, the South African Press Association reports. | The magistrate said it was clear the motive for the killing was hatred and homophobia - and Wednesday's sentence was meant to send out a signal that violence based on sexual orientation will not be tolerated, the South African Press Association reports. |
In December, the global rights group Human Rights Watch said in a report that South Africa is "desperately failing lesbian and transgender people" - despite the country's liberal laws. | |
The BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says violence against gay and lesbian people is common. | |
Lesbians are often subjected to "corrective rape" by men who think this will "cure" them of their homosexuality. | |
Three years ago, a man was sentenced to life in prison and another to 32 years for the gang rape, robbery and murder of Eudy Simelane, a lesbian activist who had been a midfielder on the national football team. |