A 33-year-old man from Capital Park, Pretoria, was sentenced to life imprisonment this week for murdering his wife in 2023.

Pretoria Rekord reports the man was sentenced for the incident on December 31, 2023, after he killed his wife following a New Year’s Eve braai and drinks.

Local police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk says: “Their eldest daughter (17) was out with friends and stayed over for the night, while their youngest daughter (10) remained at home.”

Van Dyk adds that an argument broke out after midnight, leading to the attack.
“After midnight, the couple retired to bed. An argument ensued between the accused and the deceased, prompting [the wife] to flee to their bedroom in an attempt to escape.

“The accused assaulted the victim before leaving the room, only to return moments later with a screwdriver, which he used to stab her multiple times in the neck and chest,” Van Dyk says.

He explains their 10-year-old daughter was in the room during the attack.

“The young girl witnessed the attack and cried out for help, but the accused threatened to stab her if she made any noise. He then locked the child in the room, secured the house, and fled the scene,” adds Van Dyk.

The following morning, their eldest daughter arrived home and called for her mother to open the door, but her younger sister told her what had happened.

“The eldest daughter returned home but was unable to enter. She called out, and her younger sister responded through the window, informing her that their father had killed their mother. The teenager sought help from neighbours, who broke down the door and found [her mother’s] lifeless body inside. The younger daughter had spent the entire night in the room, too frightened to move.”

Van Dyk says police were alerted, and a murder case was opened.

An investigation led police to the man’s family home in Soshanguve.

“He ended up confessing to his family after realising the gravity of his actions, and he was handed over to police,” says Van Dyk.

“The case was assigned to Warrant Officer Lourens Lemmer of the Wonderboompoort SAPS Detective Service. Through his thorough and meticulous investigation, the accused was successfully prosecuted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the high court,” he adds.

District commissioner Major-General Samuel Thine commended Lemmer for his dedication and professionalism in handling the investigation and presenting the evidence in court.

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