Die Beaufort-Wes-streekhof het R Kelly tot 34 jaar effektiewe gevangenisstraf gevonnis. Raymond Kelly, bekend as R Kelly, is skuldig bevind aan die moord op Brendon de Wee, wat 36 keer op 12 Julie 2015 gesteek is tydens ‘n argument by Strydersfontein-plaas, Beaufort-Wes. De Wee het ook ‘n skedelfraktuur opgedoen.
Die beskuldigde is ook skuldig bevind aan die moord op Griet Plaatjies. Hy het die bejaarde vrou nege keer in die erf van haar eiendom op Prince Valley, Beaufort-Wes gesteek. Sy het ook ‘n ribfraktuur opgedoen nadat hy haar die aand van 31 Desember 2015 aangeval het. Sy meisie, Regina Saayman, het ook aan die hand van Kelly gely toe hy haar erg met ‘n sambok aangerand en haar op die aand van 11 September 2017 geskop het met die doel om haar ernstig te beseer.
LEES DIE VOLLEDIGE VERKLARING HIER:
PRESS RELEASE
24 APRIL 2023
R KELLY SENTENCED FOR MURDERS AND PARTNER’S SEVERE ASSAULT
The Beaufort West Regional Court has sentenced R Kelly to an effective 34-year imprisonment following a marathon trial delayed by the accused as he changed legal representatives and asked for witnesses for his defence who could not be traced. Raymond Kelly, known as R Kelly, was convicted for the murder of Brendon de Wee, who was stabbed 36 times during an argument at Strydersfontein Farm, Beaufort West, on12 July 2015.De Wee was also left with a skull fracture.
The accused was also convicted for the murder of Griet Plaatjies, he stabbed the elderly woman 9 times in the yard of her Prince Valley, Beaufort West, property. She also sustained a rib fracture after he attacked her on the evening of 31 December 2015. His girlfriend, Regina Saayman, also suffered at the hands of Kelly as he severely assaulted her with a sjambok and kicked her with intent to do her grievous bodily harm on the evening of 11 September 2017.
The court heard that the accused, his friend’s girlfriend, his friend Michael Jacobs, and two others visited their other friends at Snydersfontein Farm on 12 July 2015. De Wee and his friends were enjoying themselves on the farm until the accused and his friends arrived. They started drinking, and later the accused went outside to urinate. A quarrel started between him and the deceased when he came back. He stabbed the deceased 36 times and left him with a fractured skull.
The court also heard that on 31 December 2015, the accused went to Plaatjies’house to look for his friend, Dicky. The deceased and her husband who were elderly persons told him that his friend was not staying there. The accused kicked the door open and confronted them. He claims that the deceased stabbed him, and he went to fetch his knife and stabbed her nine times. He claims it was in self-defence. Her stab wounds were on the back which indicated that she tried to run away to save her life, but it was all in vain.
The prosecutor, Hyron Goulding, told the court that Saayman’s only sin on 11 September 2017, was to tell the accused that it was late and that they were supposed to go home. Without being provoked, he kicked her in the head and later the accused and his aunt assaulted the complainant. “The accused has many previous convictions for offences involving violence including robberies and assault. It’s clear from the evidence before the court, as well as the accused’s previous convictions, that he uses violence to solve conflict and his problems. It is also clear that the accused did not rehabilitate following previous sentences imposed on him by the different courts, that’s why he is again before the court for offences involving violence”.
The state will argue that Mr Kelly did not show any remorse despite all the overwhelming evidence against him. He has maintained his lies to prove his innocence despite the watertight evidence against him. So, it is clear from the nature of the three charges above that the accused is not only a danger to strangers but also to his loved ones like his girlfriend. This accused is a danger to society, and he should be removed from society for a long period, he argued.
The court sentenced Kelly to 14 years imprisonment for De Wee’s murder, 20 years imprisonment for Plaatjies’ murder and three years imprisonment for the assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. It ordered that the sentence of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm run concurrently with the other two sentences effectively sentencing the accused to 34 years imprisonment.
Goulding, who every week for six months had to ask the investigating officer to look for witnesses in the case, welcomed the sentence. “The state is satisfied that justice has been done and that this violent accused was removed from society for a long time. The community of Beaufort West is now happy that justice was done.
Western Cape Director of Public Adv Nicolette Bell welcomed the sentence and commended the investigation and prosecution team for doing all they could to ensure justice for the victims in this case. The team even approached the local radio station as well as the media to trace the main witnesses. After several attempts they managed to get the main witnesses. Such efforts to ensure justice for victims are appreciated,” she said.
Note: The NPA’s media statements are available on the website: www.npa.gov.za
Issued by:
Eric Ntabazalila
National Prosecuting Authority
Regional Communications Manager
Western Cape
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