MEMEL – A year after murder made its bloody way to Memel, justice has been served.
Two Newcastle men were sentenced to two life sentences each at the Free State High Court in Harrismith, for the murder Charlotte Viviers and Eric Oosthuizen on October 20, 2015.
Read: Brutal murder leaves residents reeling
Judge Jake Moloi said this was the only sentence which would fit the crime.
In addition to the double life sentences, 27-year-old Sabelo Xaba and 23-year-old Simphiwe Mofokeng received 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, 15 years for possession of an unlicensed firearm, and five years for unlawful possession of ammunition.
Judge Moloi said these sentences would run concurrently.
Over the course of the proceedings, the court heard how Xaba and Mofokeng drove to Memel to rob the victims, aware there was money in the house.
At the time, only Charlotte and Eric were home.
They were set upon by Xaba and Mofokeng, were bound and gagged, and later died due to oxygen deprivation.
“Gert Viviers arrived home from work at about 6.15pm and found the two accused in the house. They attacked him and also tied his hands and gagged his mouth and nose,” read an official statement from the National Prosecuting Authority.
The accused fled the scene with about R45 000, four firearms and Gert’s bakkie.
Xaba was arrested five days later after selling one of the stolen firearms to a community member, who in turn contacted SAPS.
Mofokeng was arrested in September this year, after almost a year on the run.
“In court, Xaba agreed they planned to break into the house of the Viviers, but he waited about 15 metres from the house while Mofokeng went in. Mofokeng said they went into the house together and attacked the victims, before robbing Gert.”
State Prosecutor, Advocate Moseme Lencoe appealed to the court to impose harsh punishment on the accused, as their crime was premeditated.
He also stated the crime duo had never shown remorse.
“The accused went to the house to rob them, but even after taking the money from Gert they were not satisfied, because they let Charlotte and Eric suffocate. There is no punishment that will fit their crime other than life imprisonment.”
Also read: Article leads to arrest of wanted murder suspect
Director of Public Prosecutions in the Free State, Advocate Xolisile Khanyile welcomed the sentence, hoping it would send a message to like-minded offenders.
“The accused are cold blooded killers and dangerous criminals who acted in flagrant disregard of the sanctity of human life, and they deserve the punishment they got from the court.”
Members of the Viviers family were simply glad there was justice at last.
“Very glad that all is over now.”
