Man rapes woman at son's grave site

A man has been sentenced to life in prison after brutally attacking and raping a woman in a cemetery as she laid flowers on her son's grave.



The woman who was visiting the grave of her late six-year-old son in the garden of remembrance at a crematorium on May 9, 2016, was attacked by the suspect identified as Christopher Rode.

Rode reportedly knocked the grieving mum unconscious with a small brass and ceramic statue which he had gotten from a grave stone.

The court heard of how the vile suspect carried out the double rape, muttering the chilling words, "I will kill you," as he forced the victim to the ground, covering her mouth with his hand in a bid to stop her from screaming.

The reports reveal how the victim had begged for mercy, telling the suspect that it was the anniversary of the tragic death of her son, but Rode had shown no remorse as he hit her over the head at least four times with the statue, ripped off her clothes and raped her twice.

The 56-year-old woman whose identity has been withheld, had just finished tidying her son's grave and was heading back to her car when, following a rustle in the bushes, Rode attacked her.

After her ordeal, The victim is reported to have managed to flag down a passing car, who rushed her to a nearby hospital.

Judge John Reddihough sentenced Rode to spend the rest of his life in jail today, July 12, 2016.