Four black men jailed for life for killing two Kraaifontein police officers w/o Gershwin Matthee and student-constable Cannon Cloete
16 Aug 2013 Western Cape Cape High Court --The Cape High Court sentenced four men, convicted of shooting dead two Kraaifontein police officers at close range, to a total of 130 years imprisonment, while three of them have been jailed to life. After delivering her sentence, Judge Elizabeth Baartman announced on Wednesday, 14 August 2013 that “the effective sentence” for Khangelani Thukela Twala was two life sentences and 65 years “direct imprisonment”. Sivuyile Sangovana and Olwethu Sothondoshe will serve two life sentences each and 45 years “direct imprisonment”, while Sibusiso Mehlo will serve 20 years “direct imprisonment”. The accused showed no emotion while Judge Baartman delivered her sentence before a packed courtroom, which included police officers and family members of the murdered police members.
Kraaifontein SAPS warrant/officer Gershwin Matthee and Const Cannon Cloete were shot dead and robbed of their service pistols on 22 May 2011 in Boesak Street, Wallacedene (Kraaifontein).
Twala, Sangovana and Sothondoshe were handed life sentences for the murders of WO Matthee and Const Cloete. The four accused faced 14 charges and apart from the police officers’ murders and robbery of their service pistols, they faced attempted murder charges relating to the shooting and wounding of a motorist and a shop-keeper in two other incidents during the same period.
Judge Baartman said: “The attack (on the police officers) was brutal. WO Matthee sustained eight entrance wounds, two of which were in the back of his head. The presence of an area of tattooing and a ring of abrasion suggests that these shots were fired at close range. At the time, WO Matthee was an experienced officer.
“Student Const Cloete sustained four entrance wounds, one of which was in the back of his head. The pathologist described the wound as ‘a near contact gunshot wound’. Forensic experts collected 18 cartridges and four bullets at the bloody scene.”
Police statement by Ltcol Norman Joseph (021) 4678603 Cellphone: 0827776004 Email address: wcjournalist@saps.org.za
http://www.sapsjournalonline.gov.za/dynamic/journal_dynamic.aspx?pageid=414&jid=26925
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