IN the conclusion of the Sim murder case, accused Edward Fischer was sentenced to 70 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to the murders of former magistrate Leon Sim and his wife Marié.
According to Capt Sharon Mahamba, Sebenza SAPS spokesman, he was given a life sentence for each of the murders as well as two 25-year sentences for the theft of the Sims’ generator and other belongings. On the charge of arson, he was sentenced to 10 years.
His co-accused, Cheryl Delport, was found not guilty on all charges and was released after her last appearance at Palm Ridge High Court on March 17. “The court concluded that since she had not participated in any of the crimes, there were no grounds to find her guilty on any of the charges and she was released,” said Mahamba.
Fischer was found guilty of the murders of the couple who were discovered by their helper on the morning of August 23, 2012 in their Steel Road home. Mr Sim’s body was found near the gate of his home with stab wounds and a slit throat, while his wife’s half burned body was also discovered with a slit throat.
Fischer was arrested on the same day in Alberton after Sebenza SAPS officers ,W/O Kobus Holloway and W/O Shawn Grant, obtained information on his possible whereabouts.
The Sims were well-known and respected in the community of Kempton Park where Mr Sim worked as a magistrate and later as a teacher at Global Secondary College until the time of his death.
His wife managed the guesthouse where Fischer had stayed a few months prior to the murders.
