Farmer’s killers get life behind bars
Like a scene from a horror movie, three men killed a man and terrorised his wife. They will spend the rest of their lives in jail.
Justice has been served for Charles Henderson and his wife Jennifer when Charles’ murderers were sentenced to life and an additional 38 years. The sentences were handed down in the Palm Ridge High Court on Wednesday, 7 September.
On 8 January last year Charles heard his dogs bark outside and when he went to investigate he was met by a man who pointed a gun at him. When he tried to fight back he was assaulted with a brick, a spade and a wooden stick. During the struggle, he shouted to his wife to close the kitchen door.
Intent on causing harm, the attackers broke the kitchen door open, wielding firearms and knives. They demanded money and firearms from Jennifer. They brought Charles back into the kitchen where they tied him up with electric cords and gagged him with a cloth. The attackers continued to threaten and assault Jennifer until she opened the safe in her bedroom from which they took several firearms.
They also stole items such as a plasma television set, a microwave, cellphones and 12 bottles of alcohol, among other things. They tied Jennifer’s hands and feet, and then tied her body to her husband’s.
Several hours after the attackers had left her house, Jennifer managed to untie herself and call Drift Security. Her husband passed away shortly after the police and ambulance arrived and she was being taken to hospital.
Pardon Ngwenya, Caiphus Mdawini and Joseph Manyisa were found guilty on charges of possession of ammunition, possession of an unlicensed firearm, sexual assault, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder and possession of a prohibited firearm. They were sentenced to 38 years plus life imprisonment. Their sentences will run concurrently.
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