COURT SENTENCES A MAN FOR MURDER OVER A DEAD SHEEP
The Colesberg Regional Court sentenced Victor Pietersen (38), to 15 years on a charge of murder. It is alleged that on 24 July 2022, the deceased Jim Booysen (21) and the accused had an argument about the dead sheep, on a farm near Colesberg, and the deceased girlfriend intervened and managed to separate them. The two men then approached the owner of the farm for permission to eat the meat, who later instructed them to share equally. The accused later suggested that they must share with the third party, also residing on the farm, but the deceased refused.
Later, the same day, the two argued in front of the accused house, who produced a knife and stabbed the deceased. The deceased collapsed and died on the scene of the crime, and the accused informed the farm owner and requested him to call an ambulance. The Police were called to the scene, and the accused was arrested.
During the trial, Regional Court Prosecutor reminded the court that the accused had two previous convictions of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The prosecutor further informed the court, that the accused and deceased knew each other for a very long time, that the deceased family is still struggling to accept the loss, and that the accused failed to prove to the court that there are substantial and compelling grounds for the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.
The Regional Court Acting Magistrate agreed with the prosecutor that there were no substantial and compelling grounds for the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment and sentenced the accused to 15 years direct imprisonment.
