THE four convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping at schools in the Pinetown area intend to file an application for leave to appeal the sentence, a 35 years jail term.

The four, Mthobisi Shozi, Brian Charles, Sbonelo Mkhulisi and Lebogang Magwaza, appeared at the Pinetown Regional Court on Friday (August 28) when the matter was adjourned to September 9 for arguments in their application.

Handing down his sentence in July, Magistrate Muntu Khumalo said there was no factual basis that the four were candidates for rehabilitation and that they had shown no remorse during the trial proceedings.

Khumalo said they had carefully planned their attacks on the schools which they targeted and where they carried out the serious crimes.

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Khumalo also said the actions of the four had left teachers living in constant fear of being robbed and kidnapped at public schools.

The magistrate pointed out that one of the witnesses, a teacher, had testified that the ordeal had been a life-changing one which they will never forget.

The four were declared unfit to possess a firearm.

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