Farm murderer gets life
We are relieved and pleased with the outcome. It will never bring back my husband but justice was served.
The murderer of a farmer was sentenced to life and an additional 42 years’ imprisonment in the Pretoria high court on Wednesday.
Investigating officer, Cathwin Ngoetjana was in contact with the family during the sentencing, which resumed on Monday as Johan Heunis’ wife, Mariandra was unable to attend still haunted by her husband’s murder.
Justice Sehlangu had been found guilty of murder.
“These past three years, have been difficult for us as a family. I would not wish that… for anyone,” said Mariandra.
“We are relieved and pleased with the outcome. It will never bring back my husband but justice was served.
Heunis (43) was shot in front of his family – wife and daughter (6) – on their smallholding home in Leeufontein, Kameeldrift in October 2016.
Mariandra was 36 weeks pregnant with her fourth child at the time.
READ MORE: Covid-19 patients who infect others may face murder charges
The family awoke to two armed men in their living room.
“They demanded money, we told them we didn’t have any. They shot my husband five times,” she said.
“Our little girl offered them money from her piggy bank. My husband pleaded one more time for them to leave.
“The one intruder then told his accomplice, ‘just kill him brother’. Johann was thereafter shot in the head.”
After giving birth to her son, Mariandra relocated the family to Centurion where they remain.
Mariandra said her kids can finally come to terms of their father’s murder.
“I don’t know what I would have done without my beautiful three little blond hair girls and son. It is hard for Mieke (8) Mischa (6), Majandre (4) and Johann (2) to grow up without their father but everyone has been so supportive over that past couple of years.”
READ MORE: Early Sassa payments due to Covid-19
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
