FATHER AND TWO SONS SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER
Clyde De Koker (24), Neillon De Koker (30), and their father Give De Koker (60), have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Regional Court in Kimberley after they were convicted of murder. On 01 December 2019, Clyde, and his brother Neillon were from the nightclub walking to their home, when along the way they met three guys who robbed them of their cellphones and shoes. After being robbed they then proceeded to go home and reported the incident to their father. The three of them decided to go look for the robbers. On their way, they met with the victim whom they alleged that he was one of the suspects who robbed them. When they go out of their car, it is alleged that the victim began to run away when he saw the accused.
They caught the victim and started to physically assault him. He was kicked, stabbed with a knife, and hit with a golf stick. After assaulting the victim, they left him to die without ever discovering the alleged cellphones and shoes that they had suspected that the victim had robbed them of. Through diligent investigations by the South African Police Service, the father and his two sons were arrested and charged with murder.
During the trial, Regional Court Prosecutor Dineo Mathule, for the state, argued that the accused acted on a common purpose and that the offence was premeditated, as the accused had armed themselves with a knife and golf stick that they used to attack their victim. None of the items belonging to the accused were found in possession of the accused. The deceased right to life was taken away by the accused persons and his right to human dignity was violated. The offence of murder is prevalent within the court’s jurisdiction. There are no substantial and compelling reasons for the court to deviate from the minimum sentence. In sentencing, the court agreed with the prosecution, and the father and his two sons were sentenced to life imprisonment and all of them were declared unfit to possess firearms in terms of section 103 of the firearm control act.
The National Prosecuting Authority(NPA) will continue to prosecute these matters that affect the safety and well-being of our communities and ensure justice for victims of crime. It can never be over-emphasized how important human life is and therefore the NPA will be vigorous in its pursuit of these cases in order to serve as a deterrent to would-be murderers.
