1
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
I N THE HI G H CO URT O F S O UTH AF RI C A
(W E S TE RN C AP E DI V I S I O N, C AP E TO W N )
5
CA S E NUMB E R
:
S S 15 / 20 1 5
DA T E
:
1 4 MA RCH 2 0 17
I n t he m a t te r be t we e n :
THE S T ATE
and
LI ND ANI N AK ANI
10
A ccu se d
S E N T E N C E
BO Q W AN A, J :
I n t ro du ct io n
15
T he a ccu sed wa s co n vict e d of t h e mu rd e r of B u siswa Ce n t an e
Rwa yi (‘t h e d e ce ase d ’), co mm it te d un d e r circu m sta n ces f a llin g
wit h in
the
p u rvie w
of
se ct ion
51
of
the
Crim in a l
Law
A m en dm en t A ct 10 5 of 1 99 7 (“Th e Crim in a l L a w A m en d me nt
A ct ”) in t h a t t he of f en ce t ha t he co mm it t ed wa s p la n n ed o r
20
p re me d it a te d .
T he con sid e rat io ns t h at t he Cou rt lo o ks at wh e n se nt e n cin g
a re we ll -e st a b lish e d .
I n de t e rm in ing se n t e n ce , th e Co u rt h a s
t o loo k at wh a t ha s be com e kn o wn a s th e t ria d , n am e ly , the
25
crim e , t h e of f en d er a n d t h e in t e re st s o f so ciet y. S e e S v Zin n
/ NY
/...
2
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
1 9 69 (2 ) S A 5 3 7 (A) a t 5 40 G .
I n S v Ra b ie 1 975 (4 ) S A 8 5 5 (A ) t h e Cou rt sta t e d t h a t t h e
p u n ishm en t sh ou ld f it th e crim in a l a s we ll a s t h e crim e , b e f a ir
5
t o so ciet y a n d th a t sh o u ld be b len ded wit h a me a su re of m e rcy
a cco rd in g t o t h e circu m st an ce s of the ca se.
Re f e rrin g t o R v S wa n e p o e l 1 94 5 (A D) 4 4 4 , th e co u rt in S v
K h um a lo an d O t hers 1 9 84 (3 ) S A 32 7 (A D) a t 3 3 0 D-E he ld th a t
10
d e t e rren ce wa s t he ‘e ssen t ia l ’, ‘a ll im p o rta n t ’, ‘p a ram ou n t ’ and
‘u n ive rsa ll y a d m it te d ’ o b je ct of p un ish m en t . I t f u rth e r he ld t hat
t h e o t he r p u rp o se s o f p un ishm e nt a re a cce sso ry t o d e t e rre n ce .
T he re t rib u t ive t h eo ry h a s t o d o wit h p u n ish in g a p a st wro n gf ul
a ct , wh il st re f o rma t ive , p re ve n t ive a n d d e te rre n t th eo rie s a re
15
a ll a b o ut t h e f u t u re , “in t h e go od t ha t wo u ld be p rod uce d a s a
re su lt o f t h e p u n ish me n t ” a s o b se rve d in Ra b ie su p ra at 8 6 2 A B.
I t wa s p o in t e d o u t b y t h e Co u rt in t he ca se of R v K a rg 1 9 61 (1 )
20
S A 2 3 1 ( A ) a t 2 3 6 A -B th a t wh ile t h e d et e rre n t ef f e ct of
p u n ishm en t h a s rem a ine d a s imp o rt an t a s e ve r , t h e re trib u t ive
ef f e ct, wh ilst b y n o me a n s a b se n t f ro m th e m od e rn a pp ro a ch to
se n t en cin g ,
ha s
t e nd e d
p re ve n t io n a n d corre ct io n .
25
that
/ NY
if
se n te n ce s f o r
to
yie ld
gro u n d
to
a sp e ct s
of
Th e Court we n t o n f u rt he r t o st at e
se rio u s
crim e s
a re
t oo
le nie n t
t he
/...
3
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
a d m in ist ra t io n of ju st ice m a y f a ll in t o d isre p ut e a nd in ju re d
p e rso n s m a y b e d isp o sed t o ta king t h e la w in t o t h e ir o wn
h a nd s.
5
P re scrib e d m in im um sen t en ce
T he le gisla t u re h a s p re scrib e d m in im um se n te n ce s in re sp e ct
of a va rie t y o f in st a n ce s in vo lvin g s e rio u s a nd vio le n t crim e s
wit h t h e in t ro d u ct io n of th e Crim inal L a w A m e n dm en t A ct in
1 9 97 .
10
S e ct io n 51 (1 ) re a d wit h P a rt 1 (a ) o f S ch e du le 2 of t he Crim in a l
L a w A m e n dm en t A ct p re scrib e s a m in imu m sen t en ce of lif e
im p riso nm en t wh e re mu rd e r wa s p rem e d ita t ed o r p la nne d .
15
I n t e rm s of se ct ion 5 1 (3 )(a ) t h e Cou rt m a y d e via t e f ro m t he
m in imu m
sen t en ce
p re scrib e d
if
it
f in d s
t ha t
t here
a re
su b st an t ia l an d com p e llin g circu m stan ce s ju st if yin g im p o sit ion
of a le sse r se nt en ce t ha n t h at wh ich is p re scrib e d.
I n t ha t
re ga rd , it sha ll e nte r t h o se circum st an ce s o n t h e re co rd of t he
20
p ro ce ed in gs a n d t h e re up on imp o se su ch a le sse r se n t en ce.
Fo r a Co u rt t o com e t o th a t con clusio n it m u st con sid e r t h e
t o t a lit y of th e e vid e n ce b ef o re it , t oge t h e r wit h o t he r re le va n t
f a ct o rs
t rad it io na lly
t a ke n
in t o
a cco u n t
wh e n
se n te n cin g ,
t o ge t h e r wit h t h e prin cip le s o r p u rp o se of se n te n cin g set o u t in
25
t h e jud gm en t s I h ave re f e rre d t o a bove .
/ NY
/...
4
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
I n t he we ll -kn o wn d e cisio n of S v Ma lga s 2 0 0 1 (1 ) SA CR 4 6 9
(S CA ) t h e S up re me Co u rt of A pp e a l (“ t h e S CA ”) se t o u t h o w
t h e con cep t of ‘su b st an t ia l an d co m pe llin g ’ circu m st a n ces
5
sh o u ld b e ap p ro a ch e d . T he Cou rt su mm a rise d it s a p pro a ch at
4 7 0 -47 1 a s f o llo ws:
A . “S e ct io n 51
h a s lim it e d b u t no t e lim in a t ed t he
co u rt ’s d iscre t ion im p o sin g sen t en ce in re spe ct of
10
of f en ce s ref e rre d t o in Pa rt 1 of S ch e du le 2 (o r
im p riso nm en t
for
other
sp e cif ie d
p e rio d s
for
of f en ce s list ed in o t h e r p a rt s of S che d u le 2 ).
B . Co u rt s a re re qu ire d to ap p roa ch t he imp o sit ion of
15
se n t en ce
co n sciou s
o rd a in ed
lif e
t h at
imp riso n me n t
t he
(o r
Legisla t u re
the
has
p a rt icu la r
p re scrib e d pe rio d of im p rison me n t ) as t h e sen t en ce
t h a t sh ou ld o rd in aril y a n d in t he ab se n ce of we igh t y
ju st if ica t io n b e imp o sed f o r t h e list ed crim e s in t he
20
sp e cif ie d circu m sta n ce s.
C. Un le ss t he re a re , a n d ca n b e se en t o b e , t ru ly
co n vin cin g re a so ns f o r a d if f e re n t re sp o n se , t he
crim e s in que st io n a re th e ref o re re qu ire d to e licit a
25
se ve re , st a n d a rd ise d a n d con sist e nt re sp o n se f rom
/ NY
/...
5
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
t h e co u rt s.
D. T he spe cif ie d sen t e n ce s a re n ot t o be de p a rte d
f rom
5
ligh t ly
or
h yp o t h e s e s
for
f lim sy
f a vo u ra b le
to
re a so ns .
th e
S p e cu la t ive
of f e n de r,
un due
sym p a t h y, a ve rsio n t o im p riso n in g f irst of f e n de rs,
p e rso na l d o u bt s a s t o t h e ef f ica cy o f t h e p o licy
u n de rlyin g t h e le gi sla t io n , a n d ma rgin a l d if f e re n ce s
in
10
p e rso n a l
p a rt icip a t ion
circu m st an ce s
be twe e n
or
d e gre e s
co -of f en de rs
a re
to
of
be
e xclu d e d .
E . T he Le gisla t u re ha s h o we ve r d e lib era t e ly le f t it to
t h e co u rt s t o d e cid e wh e t he r t he circu m st an ce s of
15
a n y p a rt icu la r ca se ca ll f o r a d ep art u re f rom th e
p re scrib e d
se nt en ce .
W hile
t he
e m p ha sis
has
sh if t e d t o th e o b ject ive gra vit y o f t he t yp e of crime
a n d t he n ee d f o r ef f e ct ive sa n ct ion s a ga in st it , t h is
d o e s n o t m ea n t ha t a ll o th e r con side ra t io n s a re to
20
b e ign o re d.
F. A ll f a ct o rs (o t he r t h a n th o se se t ou t in D a bo ve )
t ra d it io na lly
t a ken
in to
a cco u nt
in
sen t en cin g
( wh e t h e r o r no t t h e y d im in ish m ora l gu ilt ) t h u s
25
co n t inu e t o p la y a ro le ; n on e is exclu d e d a t t he
o u t set
/ NY
f rom
con sid e ra t ion
in
th e
sen t en cin g
/...
6
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
p ro ce ss.
G . T he
u lt im a te
imp a ct
of
a ll
t he
circu m st an ce s
re le va n t t o se n ten cin g m u st be me a su red a ga in st
5
the
com po sit e
ya rd st ick
(‘s u b st an t ia l
an d
co m pe llin g ’) a n d m u st b e su ch a s cu m u lat ive ly
ju st if y a d e pa rt u re f rom t h e sta n da rd ise d re sp on se
t h a t t h e L e gisla t u re h a s o rd a in e d.
10
H. I n
ap p lyin g
the
st a tu t o ry
p ro visio n s ,
it
is
in a p p rop ria t e ly co n st rict in g t o u se t h e co n ce p ts
d e ve lo p e d in d ea lin g wit h a p p ea ls aga in st se n t en ce
a s t he so le crit e rio n .
15
I . I f t he se nt e n cin g co u rt on con side ra t io n of th e
circu m st an ce s of t h e p a rt icu la r ca se is sa t isf ied
t h a t th e y re n d e r th e p re scrib ed sent e n ce u n ju st in
t h a t it wo u ld b e disp ro p o rt io na t e t o t h e crim e , t he
20
crim in a l an d
th e n e ed s of
so cie ty ,
so
t h a t an
in ju st ice wo u ld b e d o n e b y im p o sin g t h a t se nt e n ce ,
it is e n t it led to impo se a le sse r sen t en ce .
J. I n so d o in g, a cco un t mu st b e ta ke n of t h e f a ct t hat
25
crim e of t h a t pa rticu la r kin d h a s b ee n sin gle d o u t
f o r se ve re p u n ishm e nt an d th a t th e se n t en ce to be
/ NY
/...
7
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
im p o se d in lie u of t h e p re scrib e d se n t en ce sh ou ld
b e a sse ssed pa yi n g d u e re ga rd t o t h e b e n ch ma rk
wh ich t h e L e gisla tu r e h a s p ro vid e d . ”
T he co n ce p t of sub st a nt ia l a nd comp e llin g circu m st a nce s
5
h a s no t be e n d ef in e d in t h e le gisla t io n ; it ha s be e n lef t
u p t o th e co u rt s to d e cide , ba se d o n circu m sta n ce s of
e a ch
ca se ,
as
to
su b st an t ia l f a ct o rs.
wh a t
co n st itu te s
com p e llin g
an d
W hat is im p ort a n t to n ot e is th at
su ch circum st an ces a re n o t re qu ire d t o b e e xce p t io na l in
10
the
sen se
of
be in g
se ld o m
e nco u n te re d
or
rare .
De p a rt u re wo u ld be ju st if ied if t h e re is ju st if ica t ion to do
so , h a vin g re ga rd t o t he we igh t o f a ll t h e re le va n t f a c tors
cu m u la t ive ly. I n co n t ra st it wo u ld b e im p ro pe r t o d e via t e
f rom
15
th e
m in imu m
se n te n ce
pu re ly
for
pe rson a l
p ref e ren ce of f lim sy re a so n s.
Mit iga t in g a n d a ggra va t in g circu m st an ce s :
T he a ccu se d d id n o t lea d e vid e n ce in m it iga t io n of se n t en ce ,
Mr T h eu n isse n p re se n te d f a ct o rs to b e t a ken in to a cco un t
20
wh e n se n te n ce is co n side re d , on be h a lf of t he a ccuse d , e x
p a rt e a nd wh ich h e a rgu e d sh o u ld be re ga rd e d a s su bst a n t ia l
a n d co mp e llin g.
I h a ve a lso h ad rega rd t o th e e vid e n ce th at
wa s le d in t h e main t ria l b y t h e a ccu se d wh ich is re le va n t t o
t h e con sid e ra t io n of m it iga t in g f a cto rs.
25
I t wo u ld h ave b e e n
n o t iced t ha t a size a b le am o un t of e vid e n ce re le va nt t o the
/ NY
/...
8
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
qu e st io n of sen t ence wa s le d d u rin g t h e m a in t ria l.
T he
S t at e
on
p ro ce ed in gs ,
5
th e
le d
o th e r
the
h an d ,
e vid e n ce
d u rin g
of
the
sen t e n cin g
No m vu yo
Ce n ta ne
(‘Ce n t a n e ’) , th e de ce a se d ’s sist e r, a n d a lso p o in t ed to f a cto rs
that
sho u ld
su b m itt e d
be
t ha t
circu m st an ce s
co n sid e red
t he re
we re
wa rra n t in g
a s a ggra va t in g.
no
sub st a nt ia l
d e via t io n
Mr
a nd
f rom
Mo e ke t si
com p e lling
t he
m in imum
se n t en ce p re scribe d .
10
I d e a l wit h a ll t h e issu e s su bm it te d b y t h e p a rt ie s d urin g t h e
se n t en cin g p ro ceed in gs , a s we ll a s t h e e vid e n ce t ha t wa s le d
d u rin g su ch p ro cee d in gs a nd du rin g t h e m a in t ria l.
15
T he of f e nd e r :
Th e a ccu se d ’s p e rso n a l c ircu mst a n ce s .
T he a ccu se d is a 3 8 ye a r o ld u nma rrie d m an .
He h a s t wo
m in o r ch ild re n a ge d 1 0 a nd 1 6 , f rom d if f e ren t m ot h e rs.
P rio r
t o h is in ca rce ra t ion in re la t io n t o t his ca se , h e wo rke d a s a
20
p o lice ma n wit h t h e S o u t h Af rican P o lice S e rvice a t t h e B e llvil le
Ra il wa y S t a t io n , h a vin g st a rt e d t he re in Ju n e 2 0 10 .
B ef o re
t h a t h e wo rke d a t K u ya sa P o lice St at io n in Co le sb e rg . He h ad
b e en
t h e re
sin ce
2 0 08 ,
h a vin g
been
t ran sf e rre d
f rom
Na m a qu a la n d. He f in ishe d h is m at ric a n d wa s a lso t ra in e d a s
25
a p o lice of f ice r a t t h e P o lice Co lle ge. T h e a ccu se d h as h a d a
/ NY
/...
9
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
h o me in t he E a st e rn Ca pe . I t ap pe a rs f ro m t h e e vid e n ce in th e
m a in t ria l t ha t he wa s a b re a d win n e r t o h is E a st e rn Ca p e
f a m ily.
a ccu sed
5
Mr T h e un isse n su bm it t ed t ha t , a s a p o lice of f ice r , t he
wa s
a
go o d
d iscip lin a ry re co rd s.
st a nd in g
me m be r
wit h
no
p re vio u s
Cap t a in Ma nd la kh e Cryp ria n Nt sh in gila
t e st if ie d d u rin g t h e m a in t ria l t h at a s t h e a ccu se d ’s comm a nd e r
h e ne ve r e xp e rie n ce d an y p e rso na l p ro b lem s wit h h im a n d t h ey
go t o n we ll wit h e a ch ot h e r. De pa rtm e nt a lly h e wa s no t a wa re
of a n y co m p la in ts a ga in st t h e a ccu se d .
10
Co lo ne l Ja co bu s
P h illip Fre d e ricks t e st if ie d th a t th e a ccu sed wa s a d iscip lin e d
m em be r , ve ry n e a t wit h h is u n if o rm . His p riva t e ve h icle wa s
a lso n e at in sid e ou t .
I t wa s a lso s u b m itt e d on b eh a lf of th e
a ccu sed t h a t h e at t e nd e d chu rch a nd wa s a wo rsh ip e r.
T he
a ccu sed sou gh t t o sh o w in t h e ma in t ria l b y t h e qu e stio n s he
15
p u t to th e wit n e sse s t ha t wh a t he d id o n t h e d a y of t he in cid en t
wa s o u t o f ch a ra cte r , e vid e n ce d b y, a m on gst o t h e r t h in gs , t h e
m a nn e r i n wh ich t h e f ire a rm wa s lef t in t he ve h icle , wh ich
a cco rd in g t o h im , wa s in d ica t ive o f a p e rso n wh o wa s a ct in g
a b no rm a lly. Th e accu se d h a s n o p revio u s co n vict io n s.
20
T he a ccu se d ’s e mo t io na l s t a te :
T he a ccu se d t e st if ied in t h e m a in tria l t h a t h e suf f e re d f ro m
se ve re d e p re ssio n f o r wh ich h e h a s b e e n re ce ivin g t r e a tm e nt
o ve r a p e rio d of t im e , i.e . sin ce 2 010 , wh ich h e t e st if ie d wa s
25
ca u sed b y t h e st re ss in t h e re lat io n sh ip in it iat e d b y t h e
/ NY
/...
10
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
d e cea se d .
He te st if ie d t h at he wa s h o sp it a lise d f o r t ha t
co n d it ion o n t w o o cca sio n s , b e in g 2 0 1 0 a nd 2 01 2 .
He so u gh t
a t ra n sf e r t o t h e E a st e rn Ca p e t o ge t a wa y f ro m t he sit u a t ion
wit h t h e d e ce a se d b u t h is a p p lica t io n wa s t u rn e d d own .
5
He
b la me d t he ma n age m e n t of t he p o lice f o r n o t a pp lyi n g t h e ir
m in d s t o
th e
p sych ia t ric
re p o rt
p re p a red
by
Dr
Dh a n sa y
m o t iva t in g f o r h is t ra n sf e r a nd f o r t h e sit u a t io n he f in d s h im self
in .
10
Mr T h e un isse n sub m it te d t ha t e ve n t h o u gh th e Co u rt wa s n o t
p e rsu ad e d t ha t t he em o t io n a l co nd itio n of th e a ccu sed le d to
a u t om at ism wh e n h e wa s co n vict e d , it s t ill p la ye d a p a rt as
o n e of th e f a cto rs t o be con sid e red in se nt e n ce .
15
Du rin g t h e ma in tria l , e vid e n ce a s we ll a s a rgu m e n t wa s le d
e xt e n sive l y o n t h e e mo t io na l co n d it io n of t he a ccu se d .
The
a ccu sed a lle ge d th a t h e wa s ill -t re a t e d an d a bu se d b y t he
d e cea se d em o t iona lly, p sych o lo gica lly a n d so cia lly f ro m t he
b e gin n in g st a ge s of t he ir re la t ion ship .
20
suf f e red
in
th a t
re la t io n sh ip
for
m an y
He t e st if ied th a t he
ye a rs
due
to
the
d e cea se d ’s co nd uct . He t e st if ie d f urt h e r t h a t wh e n h e m o ved
f rom Co le sb e rg to Ca p e T o wn in 2 0 10 , he d id so o n t he
st re n gt h of th e de ce a se d ’s com m itm e nt t o he lp f ina n cia lly ,
h a vin g a d vise d h e r t h a t h e wa s b u ild in g a h o u se in t he E a st ern
25
Ca p e an d t ha t he co u ld n ot af f o rd t h e re nt a l in Ca pe To wn .
/ NY
/...
11
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
W hen h e go t t o Ca p e T o wn , t h e dece a sed b e c am e a ch a n ged
p e rso n sco ld in g a n d d isre sp e ct in g h im in f ron t of t he ch ild re n.
S h e d id no t kee p to h e r f in a n cia l com m itm en t . Th e t wo st a rt ed
b y sh a rin g a re n te d f la t in K en singt o n wit h t h e t wo m ino r
5
ch ild re n of t h e dece a sed , f o r wh ich t h e a ccu sed co n te n d s he
p a id re n t in f u ll wit h n o h e lp f rom th e d e ce a sed .
m o ve d t o a h ou se in De lf t .
in cid e n t s,
wh ich
I
n e ed
not
The y la t e r
Ma ny f igh t s a n d te mp e st uo us
rep ea t ,
o ccu rred
d u rin g
the
d u ra t ion of t he rela t io n sh ip , ha vin g st a rt ed e ve n b ef o re the
10
a ccu sed mo ve d t o Ca p e T o wn . T he a ccu sed mo ve d o ut of the
De lf t h o u se in 20 12 t o live a t t h e p o lice b a rra cks in P ine la n d s ,
a lt h ou gh h e sta t e s t h a t h e wo u ld go t o t he De lf t h o u se o n h is
of f da ys m a in ly b e ca u se of A q h ama , t he de ce a se d ’s yo u n ge r
d a u gh t e r wit h wh o m he h ad a cl o se re la t io n sh ip a nd re ga rd e d
15
a s h is o wn d a u gh t e r.
I n f a ct h e re ga rd e d b oth of
the
d e cea se d ’s da u ght e rs a s h is o wn b u t wa s clo se r t o t h e
yo u n ge r o n e . A t so m e p o int h o we ve r , h e d e cid e d th a t h e will
n e ve r se t f oo t a t t h e ir ho u se in De lf t a ga in , af te r h e wa s
gra b b e d b y o n e of t h e po lice m e n t ha t ha d b ee n ca lled b y t he
20
d e cea se d . T he police m e n t o ld h im to le a ve t he ho u se.
P e rh ap s t o h igh lig h t so me of t he in cid e n t s th a t o ccu rre d in t he
re la t io n sh ip : T h e a ccu sed t e st if ie d th a t th e de cea se d f a ile d to
d isclo se h e r HI V st a t u s t o h im , wh ich m ad e h im th in k t h a t she
25
wa s in t e n d in g t o kill o t h e r p e o p le . He d isco ve re d t h is in 2 0 11
/ NY
/...
12
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
wh e n t h e de ce a sed la id in h o sp ita l af te r be in g se ve re ly ill. He
n e ve rt h e le ss
de cid e d
to
st a y
in
the
re lat io n sh ip.
S t a te
wit n e sse s , Ce n t ane a nd Bo n ge ka Mh a mb i (‘Mh a mb i’) t e st if ied
a b ou t h o w t h e a ccu se d se nt th e m m e ssa ge s o r ca lle d them
5
a ccu sin g t he de cea se d of inf e ct in g o r wa n t in g t o inf ect h im o r
‘t h e wh o le wo rld ’ wit h HI V . Th e a ccu se d p u t t o Mhamb i d u rin g
cro ss -e xa m in a t ion
that
he
o n ly se n t
a
me ssa ge
th a t
th e
d e cea se d wa s su f f e rin g f ro m HI V a n d A I DS a n d wa s e vil.
Ne ve rt h e le ss
10
n e ga t ive .
t he
a ccu sed
wa s
te st e d
a nd
f o un d
to
be
T h e a ccu se d a lso t e st if ie d a b ou t a no t he r in cid e nt
t h a t o ccu rre d in O ct o b e r 2 01 2 , wh e n h e wa s l i vin g b e t we e n t h e
b a rra cks an d th e De lf t h ou se wh e n h e ca u gh t th e de ce a sed
wit h a m a n in a se xu a lly co m p ro m isin g p o sit io n .
He st a t ed
t h a t he h e a r d a b ou t m an y o t h e r af f airs t h a t t h e d e ce ase d h ad ,
15
wh ich m a d e h im fe e l h um ilia t ed and u sed . He a lso t e st if ie d
t h a t he wa s re f u se d in t i ma cy b y t h e d e cea sed a nd co n clu ded
t h a t she m u st be in vo l ve d e lse wh e r e .
A cco rd in g t o h im , t he
d e cea se d de n ie d th a t sh e wa s h a vin g a f f a irs wit h o t h e r m e n.
T he a ccu se d ref u se d to ad m it t ha t he d id n o t wa n t t o se e the
20
d e cea se d wit h o t he r me n o r t ha t h e wa s je a lo u s of he r o r th a t
h e wa s a n n o ye d by h e r b e h a vio u r. He h o we ve r co n f ron t e d he r
f re qu en t ly a b o u t t h e se a lle ge d af f a irs a n d f o llo we d u p on
in f o rma t io n he re ce ive d b y p h o n in g t h e a lle ge d cu lp rit .
T he
a ccu sed o n ce a t t em p te d su icide u sing h is f ire a rm . He t e st if ied
25
t h a t Cen t an e on ce t o ld h im t ha t he wa s o b se sse d wit h t h e
/ NY
/...
13
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
d e cea se d , wh ich he ref u te d .
T he e vid e n ce of th e st a te wit n e sse s Mh a m b i a nd Ce n ta n e and
that
5
of
t he
a ccu se d 's
wit n e ss
V u ya n i
Me m an i (‘Me m an i’)
co nf irme d t he t umu lt u ou s n a tu re of th is re la t io n sh ip .
Ce n t ane
a n d Mh am b i re la ye d t h e d e ce a se d ’s sid e o f t he st o ry , sa yin g
t h a t sh e wa s a b use d in t he re la t ion sh ip b y t h e a ccuse d and
d e cid ed t o ge t an in t e rd ict .
a ssa u lte d
10
her
a lth o u gh
t h at
A t so m e p o int , th e a ccu sed
m at t er
wa s
re so l ve d
and
it ,
a cco rd in g t o th e a ccu sed , h ap pe n ed in 2 01 3 lon g b ef o re t he
in t e rd ict . Th e in t erim p ro t e ct ion o rde r wa s h a n d ed in , in Co u rt
a s a n e xh ib it .
I d o no t a cce pt t h a t t he a ccu sed wa s t h e vict im t h a t he
15
p o rt ra ye d h im se lf t o b e in t h is re la tio n sh ip . A t b e st , a n d on
c a ref u l a sse ssmen t of th e e vid e nce , b ot h pa rt ie s h u rt o r
m ist re a te d o ne an o t he r in so me wa y o r t h e ot h e r.
T he
a ccu sed wh o co nf ro n t e d t he de ce ase d ab o ut th e boyf rie n ds
t h a t h e a lle ge d she sle p t wit h in h is h o u se. He ke pt go in g t o
20
t h e De lf t ho u se e ve n t ho u gh h e ha d m o ve d in t o th e ba rra cks (I
a cce p t t h at he re ga rd e d t h e h ou se at De lf t a s h is h om e t o o ) . At
so m e st a ge he kn o cked a t th e win d o w of t he d e ce a sed ’s
b e d roo m u n t il it b ro ke , su sp e ct in g t ha t t he re wa s a man in t he
h o u se . He o n ce calle d a n e igh b ou r , by t h e n a m e of Re qu e st , to
25
wit n e ss a n a rgu m e nt b et we e n h im an d th e de cea se d a nd
/ NY
/...
14
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
d isclo se d t he d e ce a sed ’s HI V st a t us u p o n b e in g ca ll e d cra zy
b y h e r. T he se a re b u t e xa m p le s of th in gs t h e a ccu se d sa id o r
d id t o t he d e ce a se d . I a cce p t th a t t h e d e ce a se d ma y h a ve
d o ne m an y t h in gs t h a t cau sed t h e a ccu se d a lot of pa in , b u t he
5
ke p t go in g ba ck to he r e ve n af t e r h e m o ve d o u t a nd f o un d a
p la ce a t t h e ba rra cks.
If t h e m essa ge wa s n o t exp re sse d
ve rb a ll y b y t h e de ce a se d t h at th e re la t io n sh ip wa s ove r , t he
e ve n t s t ha t t o o k pl a ce f rom t h e be gin n in g of t h e re la tio n sh ip
a n d syst e ma t ica lly o ve r t h e ye a rs we re t e llin g a n d wo u ld h a ve
10
m a de it qu it e clear t o th e a ccu se d th a t t h is re lat io n ship wa s
n o t wo rkin g a n d he h ad a ch o ice t o wa lk a wa y.
T he a ccu sed t e stif ied t h a t t he seve re e m o t io na l st re ss h e
suf f e red f o r o ve r m a n y ye a rs wa s a ggra va t e d b y t h e in t e rim
15
p ro t e ct ion o rd e r th a t t he d e cea sed o b t a ine d a ga in st h im .
In
t h is re ga rd t h e issu e t h at d ro ve h im t o t h e st a t e of em o t ion a l
d isin t e gra t io n wa s t h e f a ct th a t h e h a d to ha n d in h is se rvice
p ist o l , af te r b e in g u n su cce ssf u l in co n vin cin g t h e ma gist ra t e
t h a t h is f ire a rm be e xclu d e d f ro m th e in te rim o rde r , o n th e
20
re t u rn d a y of t h e h e a rin g of t he a pp lica t io n of t h e p ro t e ct ion
o rd e r , i. e . o n 3 Ju ly 2 0 1 4 . I t will b e re ca lle d t ha t , a ccord in g t o
t h e a ccu sed , h a vin g h is f ire a rm o n h is p e rson wh ich wa s h is
wo rkin g t o o l wa s im p o rta n t b e ca u se wit h o u t it he cou ld not
wo rk o ve rt im e .
25
m o ne y
/ NY
he
Th e b en ef it of o ve rtim e is t h a t he n e ed e d t he
re ce ive d
for
o ve rt ime
for
h is
f am ily
f ina n cia l
/...
15
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
re sp o n sib ilit i e s.
A cco rd in g
to
th e
a ccu se d ,
th e
in t e rd ict
re m in de d h im of a ll t h e t h in gs he h a d b ee n t h ro u gh wit h t he
d e cea se d o ve r t h e ye a rs a n d it t rigge re d a nd cre a te d a st a t e of
h e igh t e ne d e mo t ion a l st re ss t ha t led h im n ot to a ct rat io n a lly
5
b y sh o o t in g a nd killin g t h e d e ce a se d .
A cco rd in g
to
Mr
T h eu n issen ,
t he
a ccu se d
lan d ed
in
a
re la t io n sh ip wh ich ca u sed d ysf un ct ion a l b e ha vio u r f rom t im e to
t im e an d a lth ou gh it wo u ld h a ve b e e n ve ry wise f o r h im to
10
le a ve t h e re la t ionsh ip , it wa s d if f icu lt f o r h im to wa lk a wa y
e ve n a f t e r d isco ve rin g in f id e lit y a n d a n u mb e r of o th e r t h in gs
wh ich ca u se d gre a t e m ot io n a l re a ct ion f o r h im . He wa s ill a n d
h a d t o b e give n t im e of f f ro m wo rk m a n y t ime s.
Mr
15
T h eu n issen ,
t h is
em o t io n a l
fa ct o r
is
A ccord in g t o
su b sta nt ia l
a nd
co m pe llin g o n it s own f o r t he Cou rt t o t a ke in t o a cco un t .
T he na t u re of t h e of f en ce
T he a ccu sed h a s b e e n con vict e d of a ve r y se rio u s o f f e n ce .
T he p a rt icu la r circu m sta n ce s su rrou n d in g t h e killin g o f the
20
d e cea se d in t h is ca se a re gru e some a n d ne e d so me sp e cia l
m e nt io n . Th e e vid e n ce in d icat e s t h at t h e d e cea sed wa s kille d
in a cru e l ma nne r b y u se of a f ire a rm be lo n gin g t o t he
a ccu sed .
A cco rd in g t o Co n st a b le Vu yo l we t h u Min i (‘Min i’), h e
co lle ct e d 1 9 e xh ibit s o n t h e scen e wh ich co m p rise d 4 bu lle t s
25
a n d 1 5 ca rt rid ge ca se s.
/ NY
Be n e d ict Te rre n ce Hill (‘Hill ’) t e st if ied
/...
16
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
t h a t du rin g t h e e xa m ina t io n of t h e ve h icle of t he a ccuse d , f ired
b u lle t s we re f ou nd in t h e ve h icle .
Hill e xa m in e d 1 5 ca rt rid ge
ca se s a n d f ou r f ire d b u lle t s h e re ce ive d a nd con clud e d t ha t
t h e y ca me f rom the sam e f irea r m , a 9 mm Z88 sem i -a u to m at ic.
5
B o t h Min i a n d Hill t e st if ie d t ha t a 9 mm Z88 sem i -a ut o ma t ic
p ist o l wa s u se d b y t h e me mb e rs of the S AP S . I t is d e sign e d to
ca rry 1 5 ro u n d s of b u lle t s , b ut it wa s p o ssib le f o r it t o ca rry 1 6
in t o ta l b y p u t t ing a n e xt ra b u lle t i n t o th e ch am b er o f the
we a p o n .
10
Hill a gr e e d t ha t it co u ld b e co n clu de d tha t if th e
f ire a rm ca rrie d 1 5 ro u n d s , t h e f ire d ca rt rid ge s wo u ld h a ve b e en
f ire d f ro m t h e em p t y m a ga zin e t ha t wa s f ou n d n e xt t o t he
f ire a rm . I t wa s n ot d isp u te d b y t h e a ccu sed t ha t th e m a ga zin e
ca rrie d 1 5 ro u nd s a n d t h at t he en t ire m a ga zin e wa s e mp t ie d b y
f irin g a ll t he bu lle ts t h a t we re co n t a in e d t h e re in on t o th e bo d y
15
of t he de cea se d .
Hill t e st if ie d f u rthe r t h a t h e ob se rve d d u rin g t h e a uto p sy t h a t
t h e d e ce a se d h ad b u lle t e nt ry a n d e x it wo u n d s o n th e righ t a rm
a n d t he righ t an d le f t side of th e sto m a ch a re a a s well a s on
20
t h e b a ck a n d b u tt ocks.
Dr E st a va o B e rn ard o Af o n so ’s e vid e n ce , wh o co nd u ct e d t he
p o st -mo rt em of t he d e cea se d , re ve a le d a vicio u s a t t a ck o n t he
25
d e cea se d .
His te st im o n y wa s t h a t t h e re we re 4 2 gu n sh ot
wo u n d s
the
/ NY
on
body
of
th e
de ce a sed ,
co mp rise d
se ve n
/...
17
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
p e rf o ra t in g
gu n sh o t s
on
th e
righ t
a rm
of
t he
d ece a sed
t ra n sla t in g in to f ou rt e e n wo u n d s con sist in g of se ve n e n t ry a nd
se ve n e xit wo u n ds, sixt e e n en t ra n ce an d re -en t ra n ce wo u n d s
t o t h e righ t sid e of t h e t o rso a nd t we lve o n t h e le f t side of t h e
5
t o rso .
A cco rd in g t o h im , th e d ece a sed d ied of m u lt ip le
gu n sh o t wo u nd s.
S e ve n p ro je ct ile s we re re co ve re d , i. e . t h ree
f rom th e clo th in g a n d f o u r f rom t he b o d y. Th e in te rn al in ju rie s
o b se rve d in clu de d b o we l p e rf o ra t ion, la ce ra t ion of t h e kid n e y,
f ra ct u re of t h e f o re a rm , pe lvis a n d th e te n th rib . T he f o u rt een
10
wo u n d s p re se n t on t h e righ t f o rea rm m ea n t th a t t he we a p on
wa s f ire d se ve n t im e s on t h e righ t a rm . T he ref o re , se ve n
b u lle t s en t e re d and e xit e d t he a rm .
S o me of t ho se bulle t s re -
e n t e red th e b od y t h ro u gh th e p e lvis a n d t h e ab d om en .
O t he r
wo u n d s we re f rom d ire ct sho t s in to t he a b dom in a l wa ll, t h e
15
ch e st , th e lo we r b a ck, t h e p e lvic a n d t h e h ip a rea a s we ll a s
t h e bu t t o cks of t h e d e ce a se d . T wo o f th e gu n sho t wo u n d s t hat
we n t t h ro u gh t h e t e n th rib lit e ra lly f ra ctu re d a n d b ro ke the
t e n th rib .
T he f o rce of t h e gu n sho t a lso in ju red t h e righ t lu n g ca u sin g t h e
20
b ru ise o n t h e lu n g re su lt in g in a lit t le b it of b lo od a rou n d the
lu n g.
T h e wo u n ds we re a b o u t 6 t o 7 m illim e t re s in size .
a p pe a rs
t ha t
t he
a b do m ina l
a re a
of
t he
d e ce a se d
It
wa s
co m p le t e ly d a ma ge d wit h t h e p e lvic wa lls f ra ct u re d an d o ne
gu n sh o t in ju rin g he r u t e ru s. Dr Af on so t e st if ie d t ha t gi ve n t h e
25
e xt e n sive n a t u re of t h e wo u n d s eve n i f t h e de cease d h ad
/ NY
/...
18
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
re ce ive d imm e d ia te su rgica l t re at me n t , h e do u bt e d th a t t he
su rge ry wo u ld h a ve h a d a p o sit ive o u t com e . T he ref o re t he
d e cea se d h ad ve ry lit t le cha n ce of survi vin g, if an y. T he po st m o rt em f ind in gs il lu st ra t e t he d re adf u l n a t u re of t he kil lin g o f
5
t h e d e cea se d.
T he killin g o f t h e d e cea se d wa s f oun d t o h a ve b ee n p la n ne d .
A s st a te d in th e ma in ju d gme n t , on 25 Ju ne 2 0 14 , th e accu se d ,
wh o wa s o n le a ve , wa s ca lle d t o t h e B e llville P o lice S t a t ion
10
a n d inf o rm ed ab out t he int e rim in t e rd ict .
Cru c ia lly, t h e o rde rs
co n t a in e d in t he in t e rim p ro te ct ion o rd e r we re , in t e r a lia , t h at
h e wa s n o t t o a ssa u lt o r t h re at e n t o a ssa u lt t he de ce ase d and
t h e ch ild re n n o r use f ou l, in su lt in g o r a bu sive la n gu age , n o r
h a ra ss
15
t h em ;
tha t
he
wa s
not
to
e n te r
the
d ece a se d ’s
re sid e n ce/ p rem ises a t De lf t a nd t ha t h is f ire a rm wa s t o b e
se ize d b y a p o lice of f ice r in P in e lan ds.
T he a ccu sed t e stif ied t ha t wh e n h e wa s a sked ab o u t t he
f ire a rm b y t h e p o lice of f ice r t ha t serve d t h e int e rim ord e r on
20
h im o n 2 5 Ju ne 2 01 4 , he t o ld t h e p o lice of f ice r t h at h is f ire arm
wa s a t h is wo rkp l a ce b e cau se he wa s u n d e r t h e imp re ssio n
t h a t it wa s t h e re , a s h e o rd in a rily wo u ld h a ve n o t t a ken it wh e n
h e wa s n o t o n d uty. He t e st if ied t ha t he on ly d isco ve re d it on
t h e m o rn in g of t he re t u rn d a y of t he p ro t e ct ion o rde r, i. e . 3 Ju ly
25
2 0 14 wh ich wa s t h e m o rn in g h e wa s d u e t o a p pe a r in Co u rt .
/ NY
/...
19
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
T he e xp la n a t ion th a t h e ga ve f o r h im o n ly d isco ve r in g t h e
f ire a rm on t h at da y wa s t h a t h e wa s p la n n in g t o wo rk t h e
n igh t sh if t o n t h at da y a n d h e wo u ld no rm a lly cu t h is h a ir b ef o re
h e go e s t o wo rk.
5
W he n h e op e ne d h is sa f e a t t he ba rra cks
wh e re h e kep t h is Q 2 0 o il wh ich h e u se d t o lu b rica t e h is h a ir
cu t t in g m a ch ine , h e d isco ve re d t h at t h e f irea rm wa s wit h t h e
Q 2 0 o il in th e saf e. He d e cide d th a t h e wa s go in g t o re t u rn t he
f ire a rm on th e e ve n in g wh e n h e we n t t o wo rk f o r h is n igh t sh if t .
10
I f o un d t h at th e accu se d ’s co mp lia nce wit h t h e int e rim Cou rt
o rd e r d id n ot seem to be f o re mo st in h is m in d. He cou ld ha ve
b e en mo re vigila n t in h is a ct io n s if h e wa n t e d t o co mp ly wit h
t h e Co u rt o rd e r . First l y, b y e n su ri n g t h a t t he f ire arm wa s
15
d ef in ite ly a t h is wo rkp la ce a n d h an d in g it o ve r t o a p o lice
of f ice r (in P in e lan d s ) a s re qu ire d b y t h e in t e rim pro t e ct io n
o rd e r
or
at
B e llvil le
P o lice
S t a t io n
if
t ha t
wa s
not
t he
p ro ce du re t ha t wa s a llo we d o r a p p lica b le . E ve n if it we re t o be
a cce p te d t ha t he o n ly d isco ve re d it o n t h e m o rn in g of 3 Ju ly
20
2 0 14 , h a vin g le a rn t t h at it wa s n o t a t t h e wo rkp la ce a s h e
t h o u gh t it wa s , it wa s in cu m b en t upo n h im to imm ed iat e ly t a ke
it t o t h e p o lice st a t io n a n d h a nd it in t h a t m o rn in g.
He
a d m itt e d t h at t he B e llville P o lice S t a t io n wa s righ t a cro ss t he
st re e t f ro m t he B e llvi lle Ma gist ra t e s Co u rt wh e re he wa s d ue to
25
a p pe a r t h at m o rnin g.
/ NY
He in st e a d le f t th e f ire a rm a t t h e
/...
20
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
b a rra cks wh e n he a tt e nd ed Cou rt .
A cco rd i n g t o h im , he
t h o u gh t h e cou ld co n vin ce t h e ma gist ra t e t h a t t h e f ire a rm
sh o u ld b e e xclu d ed f rom t he in te rim p ro t e ct io n o rd e r.
Ha vin g
f a ile d t o co n vin ce t h e ma gist ra t e , th e f irst t h in g wo u ld h a ve
5
b e en to t a ke th e f ire a rm im me d iat e ly t o t h e p o lice sta t io n a t
e it h e r P in e lan d s o r B e llville so a s t o co mp ly wit h th e Cou rt
o rd e r f o rth wit h , b ef o re go in g t o ho sp it a l , wh ich wa s h is a lle ge d
d e st ina t io n . H e cou ld st ill d ri ve .
T h e a ccu sed , h o we ve r , d id
n o t d o th a t . T ha t , a s I f o u nd , led t o a n in e sca pa b le con clu sio n
10
t h a t t he a ccu se d did n o t wa n t t o re t urn t h e f irea rm . E ve n if he
wa s o n h is wa y t o h o sp it a l to ge t h im se lf a dm it te d a s h e sa ys
h e wa s , he d id no t ca ll h is comm an de r t o d isp a t ch so me o ne to
f e t ch t h e f ire a rm a t t he b a rra cks o r e ve n t o me e t h im at t he
h o sp ita l
15
as
he
a lle ge d
th a t
to
h a ve
b e en
th e
p la n.
Fu rt h e rmo re , h is re a so n f o r t a kin g t h e f ire a rm wit h h im to
h o sp ita l wa s t o com p ly p rim a rily wit h t he P ro vin cia l Pro ce d u re
wh ich st ip u la t e s th a t p o lice of f ice rs a re n o t a llo we d t o ha ve
t h e ir f irea rm s in th e ir p o sse ssion if t h e y a re t o la y in h o sp ita l
f o r a lon g p e rio d of t im e a n d n ot t o com p ly wit h t h e Co u rt
20
o rd e r.
T he a ccu se d t oo k a f ire a rm lo a de d wit h a f u ll ma ga zin e wit h
h im an d lan d ed up in De lf t . W het h e r t h e p la n n in g t o sh o o t t h e
d e cea se d wa s d on e wh ilst d r i vin g wit h a n in t e n t io n t o go t o
25
h o sp ita l o r h e ch an ge d h is m in d a lon g t h e wa y is n o t re le va n t .
/ NY
/...
21
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
W hat is re le va n t is t h a t he d ro ve t o De lf t wit h a lo ad ed f ire a rm
, h e th en go t ou t of t he ve h icle , had a co n ve rsa t io n wit h t h e
d e cea se d a skin g he r wh a t is it t h a t sh e wa n t ed f rom h im no w .
A cco rd in g t o h im , h e wa s in su lt ed b y t h e d e ce a se d and
5
t h e re af t e r he d id n o t kno w h o w h e d re w h is p ist o l a n d wh a t
h a pp e ne d t h e reaf te r.
He h o we ve r a d m it s t ha t th e de ce a se d
d ie d in h is h an d s b e cau se th e f ire a rm wa s in h is p o sse ssi o n.
He d id n o t d isp ut e t h a t h e f ire d t he sh o t s , em p t yin g t h e wh o le
m a ga zin e t ha t ca rrie d 15 ro un d s of bu lle t s.
10
I m pa ct of t he de cea se d ’s d e a th on the f am ily
Ce n t an e ,
t he
sist e r
of
t he
d e cea se d ,
t e st if ie d
th a t
t he
d e cea se d h a d t wo m in o r da u gh t e rs wh o a re se ve n a nd sixt e e n
ye a rs o ld re sp e ct ive l y. T h e ch ild re n h a d be e n sta yin g wit h h e r
15
sin ce t h e ir m o th e r’s p a ssin g in 2 0 1 4 .
S in ce De ce mbe r 2 0 1 6
t h e f at h e r of th e yo u n ge st ch ild de cid e d to t a ke th e ch ild . S h e
h a d b ee n ma in t a in in g b o th ch ild ren un t il t he f a t h e r of t he
yo u n ge st t o o k h e r.
Ce n t a ne t e st if ie d t h at it wa s u p t o t h e
Co u rt t o imp o se a sen t en ce th a t it co n sid e re d ap p ro p ria t e .
20
S h e h ad f o rgive n t h e a ccu sed bu t sh e wo u ld no t f o rge t wh at
h a pp e ne d .
I n t e re st of so cie t y
Do m e st ic vio le n t ca se s a re p re va le n t in o u r so cie t y.
25
Ma n y
ca se s in vo lvin g m u rd e r o r vio le n t c rim e s b e t we e n h usb a nds
/ NY
/...
22
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
a n d wive s o r t h o se in in t ima t e re la t ion sh ip s a re t oo f requ e n t in
o u r co u rt s. I n K e ka n a v T he S t a te (62 9 / 13 ) [ 2 01 4 ] ZA CS A 1 58
(1 O ct o b e r 2 01 4 ) Ma t h o po A JA (a s h e t h en wa s ), re m a rke d at
p a ra 20 a s f o llo ws:
5
“Do m e st ic vio le n ce h a s be com e a sco u rge in o u r so cie t y
a n d sh o u ld n ot b e t re a t ed ligh t ly.
I t h a s to b e d ep lo red
a n d a lso se ve re ly p u n ishe d . Ha rd ly a d a y p a sse s wit ho ut
a re p o rt in t he med ia of a wo m an o r a ch ild b e in g b ea te n ,
10
ra p e d o r e ve n kille d in t h is co u n t ry.
Ma n y wo m e n an d
ch ild re n live in co n st a nt f e a r f o r t he ir li ve s.
T h is is in
so m e re sp e ct s a n e ga t io n of ma n y of t he ir f u n da me n ta l
righ t s
su ch
as
e qu a lit y,
h u ma n
d ign it y
and
bod ily
in t e grit y. T h is wa s we ll a rt icu la t e d in S v Ch a p m an wh e n
15
t h is co u rt sa id th e f o llo win g:
‘W ome n in th is cou n t ry … h a ve a le git im a t e righ t t o
wa lk
p e a ce f u lly
on
the
st ree t s ,
to
e n jo y
t h e ir
sh o pp in g a nd t he ir e n t e rta inm e nt t o go a nd come
f rom wo rk a nd t o en jo y t h e p ea ce a nd t ran qu illit y o f
20
t h e ir ho me s wit h ou t th e f e a r t h e a pp re h en sio n a nd
t h e in se cu rit y wh i ch co n sta n t ly d im in ish t h e qua lit y
a n d t h e e n jo yme n t of th e ir live s. ’”
I t is a g gra va t in g t h a t t h e a ccu se d wa s a t ra in e d p o lice o f f ice r
wh o h a d a du t y t o p ro t e ct t he co mmu n it y a n d e nf o rce t h e la w.
25
P o lice of f ice rs a re p a rt icu la rly e n jo in e d to p ro te ct vuln e ra b le
/ NY
/...
23
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
m em be rs of t he so cie t y f rom do me st ic vio le n ce a nd a bu se.
T he y a re e xp e cted t o do a ll th e y ca n to a ssist def e n ce le ss
vict im s o f th o se re la t io n sh ip s.
T he p o we r t h e y h a ve is n o t to
b e u sed t o a tt a ck h e lp le ss me mb e rs o f th e pu b lic , le t a lo ne
5
t h o se in clo se re lat io n sh ip s t o th em , n o m a t te r h o w so ur t h o se
re la t io n sh ip s.
I n t h e situ a t ion in t h is ca se t h e d e ce a se d wa s
vu ln e ra b le an d una rm ed .
W hat is m o re con ce rn in g a nd se riou s is t ha t th e d e ce a se d h ad
10
d o ne a ll sh e co u ld in t e rm s of t he law t o p ro t e ct h e rself .
She
h a d go ne t o Co urt t o se e k p ro t e ct io n f o r h e rse lf f ro m the
a ccu sed .
W het he r o r n o t t he in te rim p ro t e ct io n ord e r wa s
wa rra n t e d is n o t th e issu e.
T he issu e is t ha t it e xist e d .
T he
d e cea se d , f o r he r o wn re a so n s , sa w it f it t o ap p roa ch th e Co urt
15
a n d a sk f o r p ro te ct io n a ga in st t he a ccu sed a nd sh e wa s
gra n t e d t ha t p ro t ect io n b y m ea n s of a n o rde r t h at p ro h ib it ed
t h e a ccu sed f rom go in g t o t h e ir h o u se in De lf t an d f rom
ca rryin g a f irea rm .
20
T he t e rm s of th e pro t e ct io n o rd e r we re t o p ro te ct t he de ce a sed
a ga in st t h e ve ry s a m e con du ct t h at wa s p e rp e t ra t e d on h e r b y
t h e a ccu sed . A cco rd in g t o th e a ccuse d , t h e d e ce a sed t o ld t he
Co u rt t ha t m o rn ing t h a t she d id n ot f e e l saf e.
T he in t e rim
p ro t e ct ion o rde r sta t e d t h at t h e a ccuse d sh ou ld no t go t o t he ir
25
h o u se in De lf t a nd se co nd ly t h a t h is f irea rm sh o u ld b e se ize d
/ NY
/...
24
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
b y a p o lice m a n .
T he a ccu sed b re ach e d bo t h of th o se o rd e rs
a n d d id t he o pp o sit e of wh a t h e wa s t o ld a n d e xp e cte d t o do
b y t h e Co u rt .
He d id p re cise ly wh a t t he in te rd ict sou gh t to
p re ve n t .
5
T he qu e st ion of d im in ish ed crim ina l re sp o n sib ilit y
I n so me ca se s , wh ile n o n -pa t ho lo gica l crim in a l in ca pa cit y wa s
re je ct e d a s a def e n ce , it wa s st ill f o un d to h a ve h a d a n
o ve r wh e lm in g ef f e ct on th e co n du c t of t he a ccu se d .
10
In
Dire ct o r o f Pu b lic P ro se cu t ion s , T ra n sva a l v V e n t e r 2 0 0 9 (1)
S A CR 1 65 (S CA ) at p a ra 2 2 , Mla mb o JA (a s he t he n was ) we n t
t h ro u gh a se rie s o f ca se s of th e S CA t h a t d ea lt wit h t h is issu e
su ch a s S v L a u b sch e r 1 9 88 (1 ) S A 1 6 3 (A ) wh e re t h e Co u rt
f o u nd t he a pp e llan t t o h a ve a ct ed wit h d im in ish e d crim in a l
15
re sp o n sib ilit y a n d su sp en de d h a lf of h is six ye a r se n t en ce.
T he a p pe lla n t , in t h e L au b sch e r ca se , h a d f ire d a t o ta l o f 21
ro u n d s f ro m h is p ist o l in h is p a ren t s -in -la w’s h o u se h a vin g
b e en d e n ied a cce ss t o h is ch ild . A c rim in a l p sych o lo gist a n d a
p sych ia t rist t e st if ie d o n h is b eh a lf tha t h e h a d b ee n und e rgo in g
20
se ve re st re ss a s a re su lt o f h is re je ct io n b y h is p a re n ts -in -la w
a s we ll a s h is in a bilit y t o h a ve a cce ss t o h is ch ild . Mlam b o JA
re f e r re d to va rio u s o t he r de cisio n s invo l vin g sim ila r sce n a rio s.
I t is n o t n e ce ssa ry t o m e n t io n a ll of t h em sa ve t o sa y t h a t
Mla m b o JA no t ed t h a t t h e se ju d gme n t s we re d e cid ed a t t h e
25
t im e wh e n it wa s ‘b u sin e ss a s usu a l ’ a nd t he sen t e n cin g
/ NY
/...
25
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
d iscre t io n of t he co u r t s a s ye t unf e t te re d b y t h e m in imum
se n t en cin g le gisla t io n a s is cu rre n t ly t h e ca se .
Mla m b o
5
JA
a ccep t e d
in
th e
Ve nt e r
ca se
su p ra
th a t
t he
a p pe lla n t e xp e rie nce d on go in g st re ss ca u sed b y t he in cid e nt
t h a t o ccu rre d in Bu ru n d i in vo lvin g t h e ra p e a nd m u rde r o f a 14
ye a r o ld girl , wh i ch h e wa s in ca rce ra t e d in p riso n fo r.
Th is
wa s e xa ce rb a t e d by a lle ge d a d va n ces o f a f e llo w o f f icer t o h is
wif e .
10
Th e ap p e llan t h ad p rio r t o th e in cid e n t sh o we d su icid al
t e n de n cie s.
a lco h o l.
O n th e d a y of t h e in cid e n t he con sum ed a lot of
Th e Co u rt a cce pt e d th a t t he a pp e lla n t h ad lost so me
se n se of o b je ct ivit y.
He h a d a lso su p p re sse d h is mem o ry of
wh a t h a p pe n ed in B u ru nd i a s h e co uld n o t com e t o t e rm s wit h
it .
15
T h e Co u rt f ou n d t h at t he a p pe lla n t ’s la ck of ob je ct ivit y
ca n no t b e v ie we d in iso lat io n .
T he ap p e llan t b e ha ve d in a
m a nn e r t ha t sho we d a st at e of m ind su gge st in g t h a t e ve r yt h in g
h a d re vo lve d a ro u n d h im an d a n y a ct ion b y h is wif e and
ch ild re n in t e rp ret ed b y h im a s a m o un t in g t o t h em le a vin g h im ,
ju st if ie d mu rd e rin g t h e m.
20
T h e Cou rt wa s o f t he vie w t h a t t he
t ria l Co u rt ga ve i n suf f icien t we igh t t o t h e se riou sn ess o f the
crim e . Th e ap p e lla n t kille d h is wif e a n d ch ild ren b ru ta lly. T h e
Co u rt o b se rve d t h a t it wa s in t he in t e re st of so cie t y t h a t
p e rso n s wh o co mm it su ch se rio u s of f en ce s a re ap p ro p ria t e ly
se n t en ce d.
25
/ NY
/...
26
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
I n t ha t ca se , t h e Co u rt f ou nd t ha t t h e m at t e r ca lled f o r a
se n t en ce t h at to ok co gn isa n ce of t h e a p pe lla n t ’s pe rso n a l
circu m st an ce s, t he se rio u sn e ss of th e of f en ce s a n d th e ne ed
f o r se ve rit y a n d d et e rre n ce , th e la tt e r e le m en t is a t th e co re of
5
t h e com mu n it y in t e re st in h o w co u rt s sh o u ld d ea l wit h vio le nt
crim e s. I t in cre a se d t h e sen t en ce give n b y t h e lo we r Co u rt t o
1 8 ye a rs.
In th a t in st a n ce th e p re scrib e d m in imu m se n t en ce
wa s 1 5 ye a rs.
10
I n a se p a rat e ju d gm e nt , co n cu rrin g wit h Mla m b o JA , Nu ge n t JA
co n clu de d a s f o llows a t p a ra 70 :
“I t is t ra gic wh e n eve r a m a n re a ch es a st a ge of d e spa ir
t h a t re sign s h im to su icid e bu t t he la w wo u ld f a il if it d id
15
n o t ma ke it ab so lut e ly cle a r t h a t h is wif e a n d ch ild ren a re
n o t h is p ro pe rt y t o t a ke wit h h im t o e te rn it y.
I sa id
e a rlie r t h at bu t f o r t h e re sp on d en t ’s co n sid e rab le d e spa ir
t h e p ro p e r se n te n ce wo u ld h a ve be e n lif e im p rison me n t.”
20
I n S v M gib e lo 2 0 1 3 (2 ) S A CR 5 5 9 (G S J) a n a ccu sed wh o h a d
b e en in a p re vio u s re la t io n sh ip wit h t h e de ce a se d se t f ire o n a
sh a ck wh e re h e r ex -b o yf rie n d , th e de ce a se d in t ha t case , wa s
sle e p in g wit h h is girlf rie n d af te r d ou sin g it wit h a n inf lam ma b le
liqu id .
25
Th e d e ce ase d d ie d of b u rn wo u n d s.
Th e Court f o un d
t h e a ccu sed ha d pla n n ed de lib e ra te ly t o se t t h e f ire . It h e ld at
/ NY
/...
27
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
p a ra 9:
“[ a ] n e ssen t ia l cha ra ct e rist ic of a crim e of p a ssion is
wh e n a n o f f e n ce is co m m itt e d ‘wit h o u t ra t io n a l ref le ct ion
wh ilst
the
p e rp et ra t o r
co n t ro lla b le em o t io n ’”.
5
wa s
in f lu en ce d
by
a
b a rely
(S e e S v Mvh a m vh u 2 0 0 5(1 )
S A CR 5 4 (S CA ) at p a ra 13 ). Th e co u rt we n t f u rt he r t o
sa y t h a t :
“T h is ca se is a cco rd in gly d ist in gu is h a b le f rom a t yp ica l
sce n a rio ‘in wh ich a n a ccu se d re a ct s sp on t an e ou sly t o
10
p e rce ive d p ro vo cat io n , d rive n b y a n ge r , wit h o u t suf f icien t
t im e to co n side r h is a ct io n s. In t h is ca se , th e a ccu se d did
n o t u ne xp e ct e d ly a n d sh o ckin gly d i sco ve r t h e d e cea se d
wit h t h e comp la ina n t .
15
B y he r o wn ve rsio n , sh e wa s
a wa re o f t he ir re la t io n sh ip. B y h e r ve rsio n , t he d e ce a sed
h a d a h isto ry o f n u me ro u s lo ve re la t io n sh ip s.
Th e
a ccu sed
T he
a nd
t he
d e cea se d
we re n o t m a rrie d .
a ccu sed h ad n o ob liga t io n t o sta y in h e r re la t io n sh ip wit h
t h e d e cea se d b ut co u ld h a ve mo ve d o n wit h h e r lif e .
20
[ 1 0 ] O n t he o cca sio n of t h e se in cid en t s sh e we n t lo o kin g
f o r t he com p la in an t an d h ad wa n te d th e d e ce a sed t o
p u b licly d e n o u n ce t h e ir re la t io n sh ip .
kn o wn ,
as
the
State
wit n e sse s
S h e mu st h ave
t e st if ie d ,
t ha t
t he
d e cea se d d id n o t lo ve h e r a n ym o re . ”
25
/ NY
/...
28
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
T he Co u rt f o u nd t h e re to b e n o su b st an t ia l an d com p e llin g
circu m st an ce s a nd im p o se d a sen te n ce of lif e im p riso n me nt.
A n o th e r im p o rta n t ca se is th a t of S v Dika n a
2 00 8 (2) A ll SA
1 8 2 (E ) wh e re th e co u rt re je cte d t h at t h e of f e n ce in tha t ca se
5
in vo l ve d a crime of pa ssio n .
A t pa ra 7 it ob se rve d t h at a
p e rio d of som e t h re e h ou rs h a d e la pse d b e t we e n t he pe rce ive d
p ro vo ca t io n a n d th e mu rd e r a nd t he in t e n t io n t o m u rd e r wa s
f o rm u la t e d a t le ast t wo h o u rs b ef ore t h e comm ission .
The
a ccu sed in th a t ca se f e lt un d e rm in e d a n d a n gry wh e n he
10
su sp e cte d h is girl f rie nd wa s h a vin g se xu a l in t e rcou rse wit h
a n o th e r m an .
He sa id he f e lt d izzy a n d wa lke d a wa y t h in kin g
a b ou t wh a t to d o .
and
t o ld
a
d e cea se d .
15
t h em .
He se cu re d a bo t t le , f ille d it wit h p a raf f in
wit n e ss
he
wa s
co n sid e rin g
b u rn in g
the
t wo
He t he n set a ligh t a sh a ck th e y we re i n , killin g
Th e
Cou rt
f o un d
t h at
th e
a ccu se d
a cted
wit h
p re m e d it a te d , p u rp o sef u l , su st a in ed co n t ro l a n d ef f icie n cy of
e xe cu t io n
t h rou gh o u t.
It
co nf irm e d
sen t en ce s
of
lif e
im p riso nm en t on th e m u rde r ch a rge s.
20
T he n in S v Mn go m a 20 09 (1 ) S A CR 4 3 5 (E ) a t p a ra 6 a nd 7 ,
t h e a p pe a l Co u rt f o un d t h e killin g wa s n o t a n im me d iate
re sp o n se t o th e p ro vo ca t io n of inf id elit y. I t wa s n o t a n a lm o st
u n con t ro lla b le a ct of vio le n ce p ro vo ke d b y t h e d isco ve ry o f a
lo ve r ca u gh t re d -h a nd e d in a n a ct o f a d u lte ry.
25
in cre a se d a se nt en ce f ro m 5 t o 1 2 ye a rs.
/ NY
T he Co u rt
In th a t ca se the
/...
29
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
p re scri b e d m in im um se n te n ce wa s 1 5 ye a rs im p riso nm e nt a s
p re me d it a t io n wa s n o t p ro ve n a nd a p le a of gu ilt wa s acce p t ed
t h a t th e m u rde r wa s co mm it te d wit h a f o rm of in t en t ion kn o wn
as
5
do lu s e ve nt u alis .
The
S ta t e a gre e d
th a t
t he re
w e re
su b st an t ia l a nd com p e llin g c ircu m sta n ce s ju st if yin g d e p a rt u re
f rom t h e m in im um se n t en ce su ch a s th e a ge of t he a ccuse d (in
t h a t ca se
24 ye ars ), e d u cat io n , la ck of p re vio u s co nvict io n ,
co nf e ssin g t o h is e m p lo ye r, h a n d in g h im se lf t o th e aut h o rit ie s
a n d p le ad in g gu ilt y.
10
I n a m o re re c e n t S CA d e cision of S v K e ka n a su pra wh ich
in vo l ve d t h e mu rde r o f a wif e b y h e r h u sb an d , th e ap p e lla nt ,
(t h e a ccu se d in the co u rt a q u o ) ha d p le a de d gu ilt y a n d ga ve a
st a t em en t e xp la in in g h o w t h e of f e nce s of m u rde r a nd a rson
15
we re co m m it t ed .
T he a pp e lla n t an d t he d e ce a sed h a d a
t e mp e stu o u s re la tio n sh ip a s in t h is ca se .
T he ap p e lla nt
a ccu sed t h e d e cea se d of e xt ra ma rit a l a f f a irs a n d t he p a rt ie s
qu a rre lle d co n t inuo u sly , like in t h is ca se .
T he y t h re a te n ed t o
kill e a ch o t h e r a n d t h e d e cea se d t o ld h im o n se ve ra l o cca sio n s
20
t o p a ck h is b e lo ngin gs a n d le a ve t h e comm o n h om e .
O n the
d a y of t he in cide nt h e se t th e h o u se a ligh t h a vin g lo cke d the
d e cea se d
in
th e
b e d ro om .
The
a p p e llan t
h a vin g
b e en
in ce n sed b y f in d ing so m e of h is clot h e s p a cked in a b a g , he
co nf ro nt e d t h e dece a sed , we n t o u t sid e t o f e t ch p et ro l t h a t he
25
h a d b o u gh t , in his ve rsio n , f o r pu t t in g in h is ve h icle and
/ NY
/...
30
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
p o u red t he pe t ro l o n th e b e d in wh ich t he de ce a se d wa s lyin g.
W hen a ske d b y he r wh a t h e wa s d o in g , h e sa id t ha t t h a t wa s
t h e n igh t sh e shou ld d ie .
He co nt in u ed t o sp ill t h e p e t ro l in
t h e p a ssa ge , kit che n an d d in in g ro om an d se t it a ligh t .
5
W hen
h e sa w t h e f lam es h e d ro ve t o B oo yse n ’s P o lice Sta t io n a nd
re p o rt ed h is co n du ct . He p le a d ed gu ilt y a n d t h e st a t em e nt h e
m a de wa s a cce p t ed b y t h e S t a t e a nd h e wa s co n vict e d . I t wa s
a rgu e d o n b e ha lf of t he a pp e lla nt t ha t t he t ria l Co u rt e rre d in
f ind in g t h a t t he m u rde r wa s p re m e d it a te d .
10
Th e sub m ission
wa s t h a t t h e a p pella n t h ad a cte d in a sp u r of a mo me n t and
wa s b u rn in g wit h ra ge wh e n he killed t he d e cea se d b y se t t in g
f ire to t he h ou se - it wa s o n ly wh e n h e sa w h is p a cke d clo t h es
t h a t h e de cid ed t o kill. T h e killin g , it wa s a rgu e d , wa s t h u s not
p re me d it a te d .
15
T he S CA f ou n d th a t t he re la t ion sh ip wa s a t u rb u le n t one
ch a ra ct e rised b y accu sa t ion s of inf ide lit y .
I t f o u nd t hat it wa s
n o t t he f irst t im e th a t t he d e ce a sed h a d pa cke d th e app e lla n t ’s
clo t h e s in to a ba g a n d lef t t he m a t t h e do o r.
20
d e a lt
wit h
su ch
in cid en t s
bef o re
T he a pp e lla nt
wit h o u t
any
fatal
co n se qu en ce s. I t wa s d if f icu lt to u nd e rst a nd h o w t h e f a ct t h at
h e f ou nd h is clo th e s pa cke d in a b a g a n d p la ced ne a r t he
d in in g ro o m co u ld h a ve t rigge re d a nge r su ch a s to lead t o t h e
d e a th of t he de ce ase d .
25
/ NY
/...
31
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
I t wa s a rgu e d in Ke ka na su p ra t ha t th e re we re su b sta nt ia l and
co m pe llin g circu mst a n ce s t o d e via t e f rom th e se n te n ce of lif e
im p riso nm en t in th a t t h e a ccu se d h a d p le ad ed gu ilt y ; h a d
sh o wn re m o rse f o r h is a ct io n s ; wa s a f irst of f e nd e r a nd
5
t h e ref o re t h e re we re p ro sp e ct s t h a t h e co u ld b e reh ab ilit a t ed
a n d a lso t ha t he wa s in a t u rb u le n t re la t io n sh ip wit h t h e
d e cea se d wh e re la ck of t ru st p la ye d a m a jo r ro le ; h e f e lt
a b u se d an d be lit tle d b y t h e d e cea se d an d th a t wh e n h is
clo t h e s we re p a cke d in a b a g in t h e d in in g ro om h e f e lt
10
p ro vo ke d a nd sn ap p ed .
De sp ite a ll t h o se f a ct o rs , t he Co u rt
f o u nd t h at t h e crue l a n d p a inf u l d eat h of t he d e cea sed a t t he
h a nd s of h e r h u sba n d , t he f a ct th a t sh e wa s kille d in th e one
p la ce t ha t sh e o ugh t t o h a ve b e en sa f e , t he sa n ct ity o f h e r
h o me , we re a gg ra va t in g. W o rst of all , a f te r t h e h ou se wa s se t
15
a ligh t h e f a ile d t o re scu e h e r an d se cu r e me d ica l a ssist a n ce
f o r h e r.
T h e Co u rt f ou n d t h a t th e ca llo u s a n d he a rt le ss
a t t it ud e in no t che ckin g t h e co nd it io n of th e de ce a se d wa s
cle a r p ro of of h is la ck o f rem o rse .
I t a gre e d wit h t h e t ria l
Co u rt t ha t t h is co nd u ct d id n ot ma n if e st ge n u ine rem o rse in t he
20
m a nn e r d e scribe d in S v Ma t yit yi 2 0 11 (1 ) S A CR 4 0(S CA ) a t
p a ra 1 3 .
T a lking a b o ut S v Ma t yit yi su p ra , t he re is an
im p o rta n t issu e th a t wa s n o t t o u ch e d on b y Mr T he u n issen
wh e n su b m it t in g m it iga t in g f a ct o rs a n d t ha t is a qu est io n of
re m o rse . Pe rh a p s , it is co n ve n ien t to d ea l wit h t h a t issu e no w.
25
/ NY
/...
32
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
Re m o rse
T he a ccu se d t h rou gh o u t h is e vid e nce in d ica te d th a t h e wa s
re m o rsef u l a nd re gre t t e d wh a t h ad h ap p en e d . T he Co u rt is S v
Ma t yit yi su p ra a t pa ra 13 e xa m in e d th e qu e st io n of re mo rse b y
5
st a t in g t he f o llo w in g:
“. . . Th e re is , m o re o ve r , a ch a sm b e t we e n re gre t an d
re m o rse .
Man y a ccu se d pe rso n s migh t we ll re gre t t h e ir
co n du ct , bu t t ha t d o e s no t wit h o ut m o re t ran sla te t o
ge n u in e
10
re mo rse .
co n scie n ce
co n t rit io n
for
ca n
Rem o rse
is
a
th e
p ligh t
of
a n ot h e r .
only
co m e
f ro m
an
kno win g
Th u s
p a in
ge nu in e
a pp re cia t ion
a ckn o wle d ge m en t of t he e xt e n t of on e ’s e rro r.
of
an d
W he the r
t h e of f e nd e r is sin ce re ly re m o rse f u l , a n d no t simp ly
f e e lin g so rry h im se lf o r he rse lf at ha vin g b e e n cau gh t , is
15
a f a ct ua l qu e st io n. I t is t o t h e su rrou n d in g a ct ion s of th e
a ccu sed , ra t he r t h a n wh a t h e sa ys in co u rt , t h at o ne
sh o u ld ra th e r lo o k. I n o rd e r f o r t he re m o rse t o b e a va lid
co n sid e rat io n , t he p en it e n ce m u st b e sin ce re a n d th e
a ccu sed
20
m u st
co nf ide n ce .
take
the
Unt il
and
co u rt
f u lly
u n le ss
in t o
that
h is
or
her
h ap p en s ,
the
ge n u in e ne ss of the co n t rit io n a lle ged t o e xist ca n n o t b e
d e t e rm in ed .
Af ter a ll , b ef o re a cou rt ca n f in d t ha t a n
a ccu sed p e rson is ge n u in e ly re m o rsef u l , it n e ed s t o ha ve
a p ro p e r ap p re ciat io n of , in te r a lia , wh a t m o t iva t e d th e
25
a ccu sed t o com m it t h e d ee d ; wh a t h as sin ce p ro vo ke d his
/ NY
/...
33
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
o r h e r ch a n ge of h e a rt ; a n d wh e th e r h e o r sh e d oe s
in d e ed h a ve a t rue a pp re cia t ion of t h e con se qu en ce s of
t h o se a ct ion s …” (O wn e m p ha sis)
5
I n Ma t yit yi su p ra t h e Co u rt in cre a se d th e se nt e n ce fro m 2 5
ye a rs t o lif e imp riso n me n t o n th e b a sis , int e r a lia , t h a t the
re sp o nd e nt s con du ct e d t he m se lve s wit h a f la gra n t d isre ga rd
f o r t he san ct it y of h um an lif e o r individ u a l p h ysica l in t e grit y.
T he y a ct e d in a ma n ne r t h at wa s u na cce p ta b le in an y civi lise d
10
so c ie t y p a rt icu la rly o n e t h a t o u gh t t o b e co mm it te d t o t h e
p ro t e ct ion of th e righ t s o f a ll p e rson s in clu d in g wo m e n (S ee
p a ra 24 ).
I n t h e p re sen t ma tt e r , t h e a ccu se d we n t t o t he p o lice to re p o rt
15
h im se lf af te r th e in cid e nt .
He ph one d h is com ma nd e r a nd h is
b ro t h e r a n d t o ld th e m t ha t he h ad kille d t h e d e cea sed sh o rt ly
af t e r t he in cid e nt . W he n h e h ad t o te st if y h o we ve r , h e t o ld t he
Co u rt t ha t he d id n o t rem em be r sh oo t in g t h e d e ce a sed a nd a ll
t h a t h a pp en e d o n t h a t d a y.
20
O n e wo n d e rs if he wa s t ru ly
re m o rsef u l f o r h is a ct io n s a s h e d id n o t ta ke th e Cou rt f u lly t o
h is co nf ide n ce rega rd in g wh a t h a pp e ne d on t h e d ay o f t he
in cid e n t.
I t is co n ce rn in g t h a t h is m em o ry wa s se le ct ive o n
ve r y cru cia l a sp e ct s of th e in cid e nt , e sp e cia lly o n pa rt s t h at
t e n de d t o be in crim in a t in g, su ch a s wh y h e d ro ve t o th e
25
d e cea se d ’s ho u se if he me a nt t o go t o t h e h o sp it a l , b ut
/ NY
/...
34
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
su d de n ly re m e mbe rs wh e n h e go t t o t h e d e ce a sed ’s h o u se in
De lf t a nd pa rke d h is ve h icle a nd spo ke to t he d e cea se d .
His
m em o ry t h e n a ga in d isa pp e a rs sh o rt ly t h e re af t e r wi t h ‘ligh t s
go in g o f f ’ on t he cru cia l p a rt of th e ca se wh ich is t h e sh o o t in g
5
in cid e n t.
W hat a lso bo t he rs me is th a t th e accu se d d oe s n o t se e m to
t a ke
f u ll
re sp onsib ilit y
for
h is
a ct io n s.
Ye s,
he
do e s
a ckn o wle d ge t h a t so m eo ne p a sse d on in h is h a nd s , but ye t h e
10
co n t inu e d to sh if t t h e b lam e to t h e de ce a se d : t ha t h ad sh e not
ch e a te d o n h im , sle p t a rou n d wit h b o yf rie nd s a nd d id a ll t he
t h in gs sh e d id a nd f ina lly o b t a in in g a n in t e rd ict a ga in st h im , he
wo u ld n o t h a ve b ee n f a ced wit h t he sit u a t ion he is n ow.
T hat
d o e s no t st rike me a s som eo n e wh o u n de rst an d s t he p ligh t of
15
a n o th e r to t he po in t of b e in g t ru ly co n t rit e f o r h is a ct ion s.
T he a ccu se d a lso b lam e d t he f am ily o f th e de cea se d f o r
co n sp irin g a ga in st h im , a n d t h e ma na ge m en t of t he p olice f o r
n o t givin g h im a t ra n sf e r t o t he E a st e rn Ca p e an d if th e y h a d
20
gi ve n h im t h e t ra nsf e r b a se d on t h e m o t iva t io n b y Dr Dh a n sa y
re ga rd in g h is e m ot io n a l st at e , he wo u ld ha ve b e e n awa y f rom
t h e d e ce a se d a nd wo u ld n o t h a ve b ee n f a ced wit h t h e sit u a t ion
h e is f a ced wit h n o w.
Th e b lam e wa s co n t in uo u sly la id at
e ve r yo n e e lse ’s f ee t f o r p u t t in g t h e accu se d in t he sit ua t io n he
25
f ind s h im se lf in .
/ NY
/...
35
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
T ha t , in m y vie w, co lo u rs t h e re gre t t h a t t h e a ccu sed sa ys h e
h a s an d p ut s qu e st io n m a rks o n wh et h e r ind e ed h is p en it e n ce
a n d so rro w is g e n u in e f o r t he p ligh t o f th e de ce a se d a n d f or
5
h e r d em ise.
T he d e cea sed wa s a lso st ill a re lat ive ly yo u n g
wo m a n , a t 3 7 ye a rs o ld , wit h a f u t u re a h e ad of h e r. S he wa s a
p ro d u ct ive m em b er of t he so cie t y , wo rkin g wit h a hou se and
o wn in g a m o t o r ve h icle .
m o th e r wit h ch ild re n .
10
S he wa s a lso a n ind ep e nd en t , sin gle
Sh e is lo st to h e r f am ily a n d f rie nd s ,
u n t ime ly so .
A re t he re s ub st an tia l a n d c om p e llin g circu m st an ce s ?
A ga in st t h e b a ckgro u n d of a ll t he ca se s I ha ve ref e rre d t o , it
m u st be a ccep t ed t h a t t he a ccu sed wa s d e va st a t e d b y t h e
15
in t e rim p ro t e ct io n o rd e r a ga in st h im p rim a rily b e ca u se h e h ad
t o su rre nd e r h is f ire a rm an d in t u rn lo se ou t on o ve rt im e pa y
wh ich h e n e e d ed t o h e lp me e t h is f ina n cia l sit u a t ion , f or wh ich
h e b lam ed t he d e ce a sed . A s wa s o bse rve d i n t h e ca ses I h a ve
re f e rre d t o a bo ve , t h e a ct io n of t he accu se d , (i. e. t he sh o o t in g
20
of th e d e ce a sed ), d id no t h ap p en in a spu r of a mom en t a s a
sp o n ta n eo u s re a ctio n t o p ro vo ca t io n , d rive n b y a n ge r o r o t h e r
e m ot io n wh e re t h e a ccu se d ha d no suf f icie n t t im e t o co n sid er
h is a ct ion s.
25
T he a ccu se d t e st if ied t h at t h e t rigge r t o h is a ct io n wa s t h e
/ NY
/...
36
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
in t e rd ict .
A lt h ou gh h e sa ys h e wa s in su lt e d b y t h e d e ce a se d
p rio r t o th e sh oo t in g , h e d o e s no t sa y h is re a so n f o r a ct in g in
t h e m an n e r h e d id t h a t da y wa s t h e in su l t . He sa ys it wa s t h e
in t e rd ict . I n a n y eve n t , it cou ld n o t h a ve b ee n t h e in su lt it self
5
t h a t he re a cte d to b e ca u se , on h is o wn ve rsio n , h e ha d b ee n
in su lt e d m an y t im es b ef o re b y t h e d ece a sed a nd he n eve r sh o t
h e r.
Fu rt h e rmo re , it a pp e a rs to m e t h at h e we n t to th e d ece a sed ’s
10
h o u se
a lre ad y
f e e lin g
p ro vo ke d
a b ou t
th e
int erd ict
kn o win g wh a t h e wa n t e d t o d o wh e n h e go t t he re .
a nd
He st a rted
b y co n f ro nt in g h e r a b ou t t h e in te rd ict a skin g “ wh a t d o yo u wa n t
f rom m e n o w”.
15
I t is n o te wo rt h y t h a t th e a ccu sed kn e w a b o u t t h e in t e rim
in t e rd ict f o r ju st o ve r a we e k b e f ore t h e in cide n t.
I n o th e r
wo rd s h e d id n o t on ly le a rn a b ou t th e in t e rd ict o n 3 Ju ly 2 0 14 .
W hen h is re qu e st t o e xclu d e th e f irea rm f rom th e int e rd ict wa s
20
n o t gra n te d in co urt o n 3 Ju ly 2 0 1 4 , h e sa t in h is ve h icle a b it ,
d ro ve t o t h e b a rra cks, t h ou gh t h e sh o u ld ad m it h im se lf to
h o sp ita l, t o o k sleep in g clo t h e s, h is f ire a rm an d t wo m aga zin e s
a n d d ro ve t o th e de ce a se d ’s ho u se.
25
I n m y vie w, t h e re wa s a d e la ye d re a ct ion a s op p o se d t o a
/ NY
/...
37
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
sp o n ta n eo u s on e .
A lt h o u gh a de la ye d re a ct io n m a y n o t
n e ce ssa rily e lim in a t e t he ef f e ct of p ro vo ca t io n it wa t e rs it
d o wn co n sid e ra b ly.
(S e e S v Mn go m a su p ra at p a ra 6 ). T he
a ccu sed h ad t im e to re co n sid e r h is act io n s.
5
W hat a lso d ist in guish e s t h is ca se f rom th e so -ca lle d ‘cri me s o f
p a ssio n ’ is t h e e le m en t of p rem e d it a t io n o r p la n n in g t h a t is
p re se n t. Th is ca se p o ssib ly b o rd e rs o n t he ca te go ry o f ‘crime s
o f ven ge a n ce ’ a s o p po se d t o t ho se of p a ssio n .
10
On h is o wn
ve rsio n , t h e a ccuse d a n d t he d e cea se d we re n o lo nge r in a
re la t io n sh ip pe r se .
He we n t t o t e ll h e r no t t o ref e r to h im a s
h e r b o yf rie n d , a cco m pa n ied b y t wo p o lice m en at on e po in t . He
t o ld h im se lf h e wo u ld n e ve r se t f oo t in t h e ir h o u se in De lf t
a ga in af te r he wa s t o ld t o le a ve a n d ma nh a nd le d b y t h e
15
p o lice me n th a t we re ca l le d b y t h e de ce a se d . He d id n o t kno w
wh y t h e re wa s a n e ed f o r a n in te rd ict a s t he re wa s n o re al
co mm un ica t io n
be t we e n
h im
a nd
the
d e cea se d
th e n .
He
t e st if ie d th a t t he d e cea se d an d he r f am ily co n sp ire d t o h a ve
h is f ire a rm t a ke n f rom h im . T h e ref o re wh ilst i t sh o u ld be
20
a cce p te d th a t th e a ccu se d a ct ed ou t of em ot io n it wa s n o t a
sp o n ta n eo u s a ct t h a t o ccu rre d in a sp u rt of u n co nt ro lla b le
a n ge r. A t le a st t he re is n o e vid e n ce t o su p po rt t h a t. A p e riod
la p se d,
as
I
h a ve
a lre a d y
st a t e d ,
b e t we e n
th e
Co u rt
a p pe a ra n ce an d t he sh oo t in g in cid ent .
25
/ NY
/...
38
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
A st rikin g f ea t u re b e t we e n th e K e ka n a ca se su p ra an d th is
ca se is t h e re la t io n sh ip t ha t wa s f ille d wit h t u rm o il o ve r a
p e rio d of t im e .
5
I n t he p re se n t mat t e r , th e a ccu sed h a d o ve r a p e riod of t im e
b e en in sit ua t ion s wh e re h is e mo t io n s we re h e igh t en e d .
A
sit u a t ion in po in t wa s wh e n h e ca u gh t t he de ce a se d wit h
a n o th e r m an .
He h a d h is f ire a rm wit h h im t h e n , h e wa s a lso
d e va st a t ed b y wh a t h e sa w b u t h e d id n o t r e a ct b y sh o o t in g a t
10
t h e d e cea sed o r the ma n h e ca u gh t he r wit h . I un d e rsta n d t h at
t h e d ist in ct ion in t h is in st a n ce wa s t h a t t h e re wa s n o i n t e rd ict
a t th e t im e re qu irin g h is f ire a rm t o b e re tu rn ed , h o we ve r h is
st a t e of em o t io n al d ist re ss h a d bee n h e igh t en e d on m a n y
o cca sio n s b ef o re .
15
T he re a re a num be r of n igglin g f a cto r s in m y m ind inclu d in g
t h o se I ha ve a lre ad y ca n va sse d . T he a ccu sed wa s n o t m a rrie d
t o t h e d e ce a se d , t h e y h a d n o b iolo gica l ch ild re n t o ge t h e r.
No t h in g b ou n d t h e a ccu sed in th is re la t io n sh ip , h e cou ld h a ve
20
m o ve d
on
t a kin g
in t o
t ro u b led f rom da y o n e .
a cco u nt
t ha t
the
re la t ion ship
wa s
W h ilst I am m in df u l of t he t umu lt u ou s
n a t u re of t he re la tio n sh ip , I a m u na ble t o a gre e t ha t the t ra gic
co n se qu en ce s were u na vo id a b le wh e n t he a ccu se d h ad a
ch o ice a nd wa s a d vise d b y a wo r k co lle a gu e a n d so m e of
25
t h o se clo se to h im t o le a ve t h e re la t io n sh ip .
/ NY
I f th e d e cea sed
/...
39
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
wa s t h is ‘h o rrif ic ’ h u ma n be in g t h a t sh e wa s p a in t e d to b e b y
t h e a ccu se d in t his Co u rt , in wh o m h e h a d lo st int e re st , he
sh o u ld h a ve lef t he r.
5
T he
a ccu se d a dm it t ed ly d id
suf f e red a s he sh o u ld h a ve .
n o t d e a l wit h
t h e st re ss he
He o n ly a t t e n de d o ne o r t wo
co u n se llin g se ssio n s b e t we e n t he pe rio d of 2 01 0 a nd 2 01 2.
He a lso d id n o t ava il h im se lf t o lawf u l re m e d ie s to d e a l wit h
co nf lict . He re so rt e d to so lvin g t h e d isp u te s b e t we e n h im and
10
t h e d e cea se d b y killin g h e r.
T he d e cea sed o n t h e o th e r h a nd f o llo we d t h e la w b y se e kin g
p ro t e ct ion a ga in st h im wh e n sh e a pp ro a che d t he co u rt s f o r an
in t e rd ict . W ha t she so u gh t p ro t e ct ion f rom h ap p en ed t h e ve r y
15
sa m e da y of th e co u rt ap pe a ra n ce on re t u rn da y , o rche st ra t ed
b y a n a ccu sed p erso n wh o is a t ra in e d p o licem a n a nd a la w
e nf o rcem en t of f icer , ch o o sin g t o d ef y a co u rt in t e rd ict , f irst b y
n o t re t u rn in g f o r th e f ire a rm an d seco n d b y go in g t o t h e ve ry
p la ce h e wa s p ro h ib it e d t o go t o .
20
T he qu e st io n t ha t rin gs in
m y m in d is wh a t e lse co u ld th e d e cea se d h a ve do n e t o p ro t ect
h e rse lf ?
O n ce aga in , t h is is n o t t o sa y t h e in t e rd ict wa s
wa rra n t e d , if it wa s n o t, th e a ccu sed wa s we ll wit h in h is righ t s
t o ch a lle n ge it in Co u rt .
T he re t urn d a y wa s p o st po n ed o r
e xt e n d e d o n ly f o r a f e w we e ks t o 3 0 Ju ly 2 0 1 4 .
25
W ha t is a lso
co n ce rn in g is th a t t h e d e ce a sed d id n o t go t o t h e a ccu se d o r
/ NY
/...
40
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
co nf ro nt h im ab ou t wh a t e ve r issu e s sh e h a d wit h h im t h at
ca u sed h e r t o se ek a n int e rd ict , h e we n t t o he r.
I t is t ro u b lin g t h at t h e en t ire ma ga zin e wa s e m p t ie d o n t he
5
d e cea se d co n side rin g t h a t a t rigge r h a d t o de p re sse d f o r e ach
sh o t .
T h is is n ot a ca se wh e re t he f irea rm wa s d ep re sse d
o n ce an d f ired sho t s a ut om a t ica lly.
Fu rt h e rmo re , th e a ccu sed
d id no t sh o ot on e o r t wo sh o t s be ca u se h e co u ld no t co n t ro l
h im se lf af t e r a n a lte rca t io n . He em p t ie d t he en t ire ma gazin e o n
10
t h e de ce a se d af t e r h e wa s o rd e re d t o st a y a wa y f ro m he r. I t is
e vid e n t t h at t h e a ccu sed in t en d ed t o e n su re t h at sh e wa s
f in ish e d o r h a d n o ch an ce of m a kin g it .
From t h e em pt yin g of
t h e m a ga zin e i t co u ld b e d ed u ced th a t t h e a ccu se d wa n t ed to
e n su re t ha t t he d ece a sed go t kille d . I h a ve a lre a d y f o u n d t ha t
15
t h e in te n t io n wa s d ire ct .
He f u rthe r we n t t h e re wit h a f u lly
lo a d ed f ire a rm h a vin g f a ile d to re t u rn it a s p e r t h e Cou rt o rd e r.
T he d e ce a sed wa s f loo d ed wit h 1 5 b u lle t s , ca u sin g 4 2 wo u n d s
ra va gin g m a in ly h er righ t a rm a nd th e t o rso a re a of he r b o d y.
20
T he a ccu se d d id n o t t ry t o re scu e t h e de ce a se d af t e r t he
sh o o t in g n o r se e k h e lp o r m ed ica l a ssist a n ce f o r h e r , as a t ru e
sign o f sh o win g r e m o rse a b o u t wh a t h e ha d d on e .
I t is t h e
n e igh b o u rs t h at t rie d to see k he lp f o r t h e d e ce a sed .
25
Mo ga m ma t
/ NY
S e d ick
Da vid s,
the
de ce a se d ’ s
ne igh bo u r
wh o
/...
41
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
t e st if ie d in t h e ma in t ria l, st a te d th a t a m an d rivin g a wh it e
ve h icle a f t e r t he sh o o t in g h a d ta ken p la ce cam e ba ck t o t he
sce n e an d f e lt th e p u lse of t he d e cea se d an d sa id she is go n e
a n d we n t b a ck t o his ve h icle a n d d ro ve of f .
5
Ha vin g
o u t lin e d
a ll
the
f a cto rs ,
I
am
of
the
vie w
that
a ggra va t in g f a cto rs o u t we igh m it igat in g f a ct o rs in t h is ca se .
Re a so n s f o r t ha t are e vid e n t f rom wh a t I h a ve o u t lin ed a b o ve .
I
10
h a ve
t a ke n
in t o
a cco un t
the
a ccu sed ’s
p e rso n a l
circu m st an ce s ; h is e m ot io n a l con d it io n wh ich h e sa ys go t t h e
b e t te r of h im th a t d a y. In th a t re ga rd I h a ve f o un d t h at h e had
ch o ice s t o m o ve awa y a n d h a d t im e t o re co n sid e r h is a ct io n s.
Fu rt h e rmo re , a s I h a ve sho wn h e did n o t t a ke th e Co u rt into
h is f u ll co nf id en ce in t h e ma in t ria l.
15
I a m m indf u l th a t t h e a ccu sed is re la t ive ly st i ll a yo u n g man
wh o wa s f in a n cia lly su p p o rt in g h is f a m ily a n d a f irst of f en d e r
a n d th a t h e em b roile d h im se lf in a sit u a t ion t h at le d to t ra gic
co n se qu en ce s.
20
t ria l.
He st ru ck me a s a n in t e llige n t ma n du rin g t h e
W it h a ll t ho se p e rso na l f a cto rs a nd th e h ist o ry o f t he
re la t io n sh ip b e t we e n t h e a ccu sed an d t h e d e cea sed , I ca n not
ign o re
a ggra va t in g
f a cto rs
wh ich
a re
scre am in gly
lo u d e r ,
in clu d in g b ut no t lim it e d t o , t he na t ure of t h e of f e n ce , t h e f a ct
t h a t th e a ccu sed wa s a p o lice m an , wh o h a d a du t y t o u p h o ld
25
t h e la w, t h a t h e ha d d ef ied a Co u rt o rd e r b y n o t re t u rn in g h is
/ NY
/...
42
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
f ire a rm a nd b y go in g t o t h e de ce a sed ’s h o u se a nd com m itt e d
t h e of f en ce s sho rt ly a f t e r ap p ea ring in Co u rt , a n d t h a t he
p la n ne d t h e killin g o f t h e d e ce a se d a n d t ha t he u se d a ll t he
b u lle t s in t h e f irea rm t o kill t h e d e ce a sed e n su rin g t h a t she
5
h a d no ch an ce of su rvi vin g. I a m a wa re t h at t h e a ccu se d h as
yo u n g ch ild re n wh o wo u ld b e gro win g u p wit h o u t h a vin g a
f a t he r p re sen t in th e ir d a ily live s.
T he Co u rt is ho we ve r co n f ron t ed wit h a se rio u s a nd a vio le n t
10
crim e .
I t is so p re va le n t t h at t h e re is a sp e cia l f o cus in o u r
co u n t ry d ed ica t ed t o de a lin g wit h vio le n ce a ga in st wo me n a nd
ch ild re n .
S om e f a il t o u se th e a va ila b le me an s of re so lvin g
co nf lict a n d a re qu ick t o re so rt t o vio le n ce t ha t e ve n le a d s t o
d e ad ly co n se qu e nce s.
15
I n t h is ca se , t h e de ce a se d sou gh t t o p ro t e ct he rse lf f rom b e i n g
kille d b y me a n s of a p ro te ct io n o rde r.
P ro t e ct io n o rd e rs a re
t h e re t o a ssist the vu ln e ra b le wh o a re vict im s o f do m e st ic
vio le n ce
20
and
h ara ssm en t .
Th e y
a re
t h e re
to
p re ve n t
re o ccu rre n ce of su ch co nd u ct b y st a t in g wh a t t h e a lle ge d
p e rp e t ra t o r sho u ld re f r a in f rom do ing.
T he a ccu se d d ef ea t ed
t h a t wh o le o b je ct.
A cle a r m e ssa ge m u st be se n t b y o u r co u rt s t h a t wh e n an
25
in t e rd ict can no t a ssist t h o se se e kin g p ro t e ct io n a n d t he wh o le
/ NY
/...
43
S E NTE NCE
SS15/2015
p u rp o se is d ef e ate d , le ad in g t o t h e d e a t h of a vict im t h e la w
wi ll t a ke it s f u l l co u rse .
V io le n ce a s a m e an s of re so lvin g
co nf lict ha s no p lace in ou r d em o cra tic so cie t y.
5
I n vie w o f a ll t h e f a ct o rs , cu mu la t ive l y , I f in d t h e re t o b e no
su b st an t ia l a nd com p e llin g circu m sta n ce s to d e via t e f ro m t he
m in imu m se nt e n ce o rd a ine d f o r t h is t yp e of crim e.
I n t he re su lt I m a ke t he f o llo win g o rd e r:
10
1 . T he a ccu sed is sen t e n ce d t o lif e im priso n m en t in re spect
of t he cou n t of m urd e r.
2 . I n te rm s of t he Fire a rm s Con t ro l A ct 60 of 2 0 00 , t he
15
a ccu sed is u nf it t o p o sse ss a f irea rm.
20
_ __ _ __ _ __ __ _ ___ _ __ _ __ _ __ __ _
B O QW A NA , J
/ NY
/...