Soshanguve man sentenced to 40 years for murdering his children
Man convicted for murdering his four-year-old daughter and year-and-a-half-old son in 2016.
A Soshanguve man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for murdering his four-year-old daughter and year-and-a-half-old son.
Victor Timothy Phetla (36) was convicted of two counts of murder in the Pretoria North magistrate’s court on Tuesday, according to NPA North Gauteng regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana.
On September 1, 2016, Phetla called the children’s mother to ask if he could spend some time with them.
Mahanjana said the mother agreed although they were no longer in a relationship.+
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She, however, asked him to bring the children back by 14:00 the following day since the children were going to Mpumalanga with their grandparents.
The following day, while at work, the mother called Phetla to ask him to get the children ready so they are not late for the agreed time.
After several calls, her daughter finally answered sounding different from her usual self; but, she told her mother that they were fine and had slept well.
While talking to her mother, Phetla snatched the phone from the child and dropped it. That was the last time the mother was in contact with Phetla and the children.
Later, Phetla sent the mother a message on WhatsApp, telling her that she should live her life the way she wishes but must bury him next to his children.
After getting this message, she asked to leave work and called Phetla’s cousin to go with her to Phetla’s place.
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When they arrived at his place, the cousin asked the mother to wait outside while he went into the outside room where he lived and he saw the girl’s body.
He also saw Phetla trying to commit suicide by stabbing himself on the floor. He then came out and told her to call the police.
In shock, the mother ran into the main house to Phetla’s mother’s room where she found the lifeless body of her baby boy on top of the bed.
She collapsed and lost consciousness. The police and ambulance were called to the scene. When she regained consciousness, she was taken to hospital for observation.
The children were declared dead due to multiple stab wounds. Phetla was taken to hospital under police supervision and has been in custody since.
Before the trial, Phetla displayed signs of mental illness; however, an assessment done at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital found him fit to stand trial.
Phetla denied killing his children and pleaded not guilty to the murder charges and claimed that his children are still alive.
Prosecutor Hanlie du Preez asked the court to impose the prescribed maximum sentence because there were no compelling or substantial reasons to divert from it.
“In fact, there was overwhelming aggravating evidence in that Phetla was the father of the children and was in a position of care and trust. The children were vulnerable and defenceless and he betrayed their trust,” said Du Preez.
Mahanjana said the NPA welcomed the sentence.
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