Son gets two life terms for killing parents
The Valhalla man convicted of murdering his parents received two life sentences.
Convicted murderer Herman Pienaar (37) has been sentenced to two life sentences.
Pienaar was convicted of murdering his parents, Herman Snr and Christine, at their Valhalla home on 27 February 2014.
Pienaar shot both his parents in their heads after an argument. He had been drinking and using illegal narcotics, including CAT and cannabis, at the time.
He had also been diagnosed with bipolar and hyperactivity disorders two years prior.
During the trial, Pienaar said his father had sworn and accused him of not wanting to work.
He also claimed he wanted to kill himself but changed his mind and decided to shoot his father instead.
His mother then heard the shot and ran inside the house.
Pienaar shot her in the head too.
He then fled the house, only to return with his friend, Clinton White, to remove items from the house to make it look like a violent robbery.
He then fled in his mother’s car.
Herman and Christine’s bodies were discovered by their domestic worker the next morning.
Wierdabrug police spokesperson Captain Agnes Huma said Pienaar fled to Boksburg.
“When investigating officer Constable Leon Meyer saw a post on his Twitter account, he tracked him down to where he was staying,” she said.
Huma said it was later established that Pienaar and White sold some of the stolen items to buy drugs.
Pienaar pleaded guilty in the Pretoria High Court on 6 May and was sentenced to two life terms for the murders, four years for theft, three years for possession of an unlicensed firearm and nine months for possession of ammunition.
The charges against White were initially withdrawn, but he was later charged with theft, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.
Huma praised Constable Meyer’s work in securing the conviction.
“The entire station is proud of Constable Meyer’s stellar work,” said Huma.
Also read:
Son arrested for allegedly murdering parents
Murder suspect to be mentally evaluated
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