Rapist And Murderer Sentenced To Life Imprisonment

George: Western Cape - Rapist and murderer Revticken Patrick Muller, has been sentenced to a life term and 10 years imprisonment after he was convicted for the rape and murder of Bianca Chantel Matroos. He was convicted by the Western Cape High Court a month ago, for the crimes he committed on Matroos on 15 November 2019, after a night out at a nightclub in George. Muller was sentenced to life imprisonment for premeditated murder and 10 years imprisonment for rape. The two sentences will run concurrently and he is effectively sentenced to life imprisonment.

The successful conviction and plausible sentence follow an intense investigation by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), who followed the movements of the deceased and the accused, using CCTV footage from the nightclub to where her naked body was found at the George Riding Club. During the trial, the prosecutor Adv. Evadne Kortje told the court, the accused met the 37-year-old Matroos at Club Nitro in George, on the evening of 14 November 2019. In the early hours of the next morning, the accused forced the deceased into a vehicle and drove off with his friends.

She was last seen in his company and her body was discovered on 17 November 2019, between two concrete blocks in the unkempt grounds of the George Riding Club.  On 24 November 2019, the accused was arrested by members of the police at the same club where he met the deceased. 

Delivering judgment, Judge E Steyn remarked: “The deceased, a small, slender, young woman was viscously and brutally murdered. How callous was the accused to return to the club about a week later even wearing similar clothing”?. “I experienced this as indifferent, bordering on defiant. The multiple, often incoherent, often contradictory versions of the accused when testifying and the statements put, or not put to witnesses show that he is a skilled, devious, cunning liar.”

Judge Steyn elaborated, I weighed the evidence of the witnesses against that of the appellant. After careful consideration, after reviewing the totality of the evidence, disputed and undisputed facts and circumstantial evidence, I have concluded that the evidence of the witnesses for the State was credible, probable and consistent, supported by other evidence and video footage. The evidence of all the State witnesses is accepted. I am satisfied that the State has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused raped and murdered Bianca Matroos. I find that he had direct intent not only to rape, her but also to murder her.”

Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Nicolette Bell welcomed the sentence. “Our concerted efforts to fight gender-based violence are bearing fruit as the courts are handing down heavy sentences, which fit the heinous crimes committed by accused persons. We know that the wounds of the Matroos family are not yet healed, but we hope that they will find solace knowing that this accused will be in prison for a long time for the crimes he committed on their loved one,” she said.

Note: The NPA’s media statements are available on the website: www.npa.gov.za

Issued by:

Eric Ntabazalila

National Prosecuting Authority

Regional Communications Manager

Western Cape

Tel: (021) 487 7308Mobile: 073 062 1222

Email: entabazalila@npa.gov.za