JJ Peters has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his grandmother, Sannie Strydom Kilmister (68), in February 2022.

The sentence was passed in the Nelspruit Regional Court on Wednesday, January 22.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Mpumalanga spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, said Peters had first pleaded guilty in October last year. “He was sentenced to direct imprisonment this week and was also declared unfit to work with older people. The NPA welcome this sentencing as it will send a message to the public not to try and kill anyone,” Nyuswa said.

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Peters’s case had been delayed by repeated postponements such as technical glitches and the presiding judge being on sick leave. After that, his legal representative requested the court to allow Peters to undergo a mental assessment. On one occasion, his attorney did not show up for a hearing.

During his final plea on November 1 last year, Peters told the court how he had killed his grandmother, after being influenced by one of his friends. At the time, he said he was aware what he had done was against the law, and that Kilmister had died because of his actions.

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Kilmister was found dead in her bedroom on February 28, 2022, with bruise marks on her neck and blood on her pillow.

Peters did not deny his intention was to kill her, and said he was prepared to accept whatever punishment the court decided. He said he regretted his actions.