LITTLE Amantle would have turned seven on 19 August, unfortunately her life was cut short by a self-confessed killer, Pethe Simiao.
Prosecutor Zamikhaya Staffa told the Joburg High Court that Simiao deliberately targeted six-year-old Amantle Samane when he lured her before sexually assaulting and killing her in October 2024.
"When he said in his plea that he saw Amantle playing outside and called her, it meant he saw his target," said Staffa.
He asked the court to impose two life sentences and an additional 10 years.
The Mozambican national, who worked as a welder, pleaded guilty on Friday, 15 August to charges of rape, kidnapping, murder and contravention of the Immigration Act.
In his plea statement, Simiao admitted to drinking alcohol before committing the crimes.
"On 21 October 2024 I was drinking whisky with my friend on the streets, and I saw Amantle playing on the street and called her," he said.
"I took her to my shack without her permission. I left her in my shack and went outside to buy beer. I prevented her from leaving. On my return I undressed, raped and strangled her. I was aware that killing someone was wrongful and unlawful and punishable by the law."
On Tuesday, 19 August is lawyer, Advocate Ndivhuwo Masindi, argued that the guilty plea showed remorse.
ALSO READ | Killed e-hailing driver's family gets support!Opens in new window
He told the court that after the crime, Simao went to an elderly man's house in Zola, Soweto, and asked him to call the police.
Staffa rejected this, saying Simiao was arrested after running away from the crime scene.
"The mere submission that he's remorseful is not enough. He could have taken the court into his confidence about the actual offence, but he did not," said Staffa.
The court also heard a victim impact statement from Amantle's mum, who described her ongoing trauma.
"I'm not okay. I don't sleep at night. Whenever I hear a child crying, I lose it. It makes me miss Amantle. This has made me bitter and created hatred towards foreigners," she said.
"When I wake up at night, I relive the pain and remember everything that happened and the state she was in when she was found."
The matter has been postponed to 1 September for sentencing.
