DUO SENTENCED TO DOUBLE LIFE AND TWENTY YEARS EACH FOR MURDERING SHOP OWNERS
The High Court of South Africa; North West Division, sitting at the Klerksdorp Regional Court, sentenced Quinton Brits (38) and Mabote Ernest Lishea (31), to two life imprisonment for the murder of an elderly couple in their shop in Christiana. They were also sentenced to 5 years for housebreaking with intent to rob and a further 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Their conviction emanates from an incident that occurred on the morning of 30 August 2020, at a Madeira Shop in Christiana, whereat two customers found an elderly couple murdered in their shop. The two immediately notified the police of the incident, and u they found the place to be in disarray, with the husband tied with cable ties, dried blood on both the couple’s noses, and money tills opened. The daughter of the deceased later came and confirmed the cellphones and money to be missing. Post-mortem reports revealed that the elderly woman died as a result of strangulation, while the elderly man died as a result of coronary artery disease. The two pleaded not guilty to the offence.
Police investigations led them to the arrest of Brits on 01 September 2020, at Jan Kempdorp, and some items were found on him, and later identified by the daughter of the deceased as stolen. Brits subsequently took the police to a house in Christiana, where the loot was shared. On 03 September 2020, Leshea, who is a Lesotho national, was arrested at Durban Deep near Roodepoort, in the Gauteng province. During the arrest, police found items that were stolen in the shop during the robbery.
In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Adv Kgalalelo Molefe, urged the court not to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment on each of the counts of murder. She urged the court to consider the seriousness of the offence as the victims were elderly people and further pleaded that it impose a sentence that would serve as a deterrent. Judge Samkelo Gura, agreed with the state and imposed a double life imprisonment and 20 years for each accused.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari together with the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded Adv Molefe, Warrant Officer Diphokwana, Sergeant Mmusi, and other role players for their collaboration in ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to book.
