Man admits raping uni student (From Daily Echo)

Man admits raping university student in Southampton

4:00am Wednesday 28th November 2012 in News By John Hoskins, Court Reporter

A SOUTHAMPTON man with a troubled mental history appeared in court, admitting he raped a student virtually outside the court building.

She and another 21-year-old had been returning home after partying in the new year with friends in the city centre when they stopped to relieve themselves near the junction of London Road and the Inner Avenue.

Mzolisi Langa pounced on one, grabbing her around the throat and pinning her to the ground before raping her.

The victim’s friend, also studying at the University of Southampton, ran to her assistance, fighting him off before ringing the police with a description of her attacker.

Police were on the scene within minutes and Langa was arrested near the Courts of Justice building.

He had been found fit to plead by one psychiatrist but it was only after a colleague, who had interviewed him in the cells during an adjournment yesterday, concurred with his assessment that Langa pleaded guilty.

Accompanied by five representatives from Ravenswood House, Knowle, who sat behind him in the dock, he was further remanded back to the unit for Judge Peter Ralls QC to receive two medical reports pending sentence.

Prosecutor Richard Onslow withdrew allegations of assault by penetration and causing a person to engage in sexual activity.

He told the city crown court Langa, who was of previous good character, had “a troubled mental history.”

He added Langa was due to appear before the court in January accused of indecently assaulting a girl, but the prosecution would now consider whether it was in the public interest for the case to continue.