The Carnarvon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday found 36-year-old Jonathan Masima guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).
Masima was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, which was wholly suspended for a period of five years. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The conviction stems from an incident on the evening of Thursday, 23 January 2025. According to evidence, Masima went to the De Aar Camp residence of his girlfriend in Carnarvon, where she was hosting friends. He unlawfully entered the home through a window and, using his cellphone torch for illumination in the dark house, located the victim while she was sleeping.
Masima then subjected the victim to a severe assault. The court heard that he choked her, pulled her hair, pressed on her eyes, and pushed her against a mirror. The force of the impact shattered the mirror, and the victim sustained cuts to her knees when she fell. The assault was only halted when a neighbour intervened.
The Carnarvon Police were notified, and a case of assault GBH was registered. The investigation was assigned to Detective Constable Rosemary Potjeng of the local Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit.
Jonathan Masima was arrested three days after the case was opened and released on R500.00 bail. After several court appearances, the proceedings culminated in this week’s conviction and sentencing.