Douglas Arthur Louw, a 67-year-old man accused of killing his friend, 42-year-old Norman Mangaliso Vetezo was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in the Potchefstroom magistrates’ court on Tuesday.
Five years have been suspended on condition that the accused is not convicted of murder during the suspension period. He was also deemed unfit to possess a firearm.
On 30 April, Sgt Kelebogile Trom, the police spokesperson reported how the police were called to the scene in Ext. 9 at about 20:20. They found the deceased lying in the kitchen. ‘The deceased’s girlfriend said he had come into the house pressing his hand against his bloody shoulder. He told her his 67-year-old friend had stabbed him.
Photo: Selogile Leshage
In passing sentence, Magistrate Ben Mtebele said the family had lost a loved one. ‘The offence is very serious; a person has lost his life. No matter what…no matter how much we cry…we will never bring the person back,’ he said.
‘We must also look at the interest of the community. The community is here looking at us to hear what kind of sentence are we imposing,’ he continued. He added that the community is of the view that justice is sometimes not served and the perpetrator is already out of prison even before the murder victim is buried. Mtebele says the sentence for murder was the death penalty or a life sentence before 1994. Today, a prescribed sentence is 15 years in prison.
In deliberating, he considered that Louw is an elderly person. ‘He is a divorcee who is not a first-offender. Fourteen years ago, he was found guilty of domestic violence. He has children who are already independent.’
‘No one witnessed the stabbing. The accused says the deceased was aggressive and was blocking his way. He told him he was not man enough to buy him a beer.
‘There was no need to stab the person; there were other ways to solve the problem,’ said Mtebele.
After the sentence, a disorientated Louw hurriedly grabbed a plastic bag and covered his face with a cap before an officer of the court led him away.
Lydia Vetezo, the sister of the victim says the family is satisfied with the sentence although it will never bring her brother back. ‘When my 79-year-old mother passes away, she will rest in peace. She was worried about what would happen to me as I was close to my brother,’ she said.
