Shaun Oosthuizen was convicted and sentenced for the murder of Henrietta Potgieter in The Mpumalanga High Court in Nelspruit on August 5 after pleading guilty to the crimes on August 4.
The charges against his co-accused, John du Plooy and Maryna Lin Mam, were withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.
Convicted in Alberton
On December 11, 2019, Oosthuizen and du Plooy were sentenced in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court to life imprisonment and 25 and 20 years respectively for the murder of Barbara Fenton and robbery.
Fenton was murdered in September 2018.
ALSO READ: Life in prison for Barbara Fenton stranglers
Targeting fragile victims
According to Monica Nyuswa, regional spokesperson for the Department of Public Prosecutions in Mpumalanga, advocate Vuyo Mkhulisi told the court Oosthuizen pleaded guilty because of the overwhelming evidence the State had against him.
He addressed the court on the fact that Oosthuizen has a list of previous offences where he targeted elderly and fragile victims, arguing the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentences.
On July 8, 2018, Oosthuizen travelled from Gauteng to the Macadamia Old Age Home in Nelspruit in an Opel Astra with a Gauteng registration number. Oosthuizen entered the building and then left.
He later returned driving the same vehicle but with the registration number removed from the back. He entered the old aged home and went to the room where Henrietta Potgieter was residing. He found her door open and her watching television.
Oosthuizen assaulted the deceased, tied her up and strangled her to death. Oosthuizen robbed Potgieter of R10 000 and fled the scene.
On August 5, Oosthuizen was sentenced to life in prison and a further 15 years for the murder of Henrietta Potgieter.
ALSO READ: Shaun Oosthuizen and John du Plooy found guilty of the murder of Barbara Fenton
