Three murderers receive life imprisonment

Recently appointed Judge George Phatudi sentenced three men found guilty of murder and robbery to life imprisonment in the Limpopo High Court last Friday.
Phatudi earlier found that Daniel Ramak­gaga, Ramokgotsi Moimane and Hlabiso Mphanga had robbed and killed 27-year-old Imran Muhammed on 11 March 2013 in his shop in Maserven village in Sekhukhune in an act that he described as premeditated and positively not in the spur of the moment.
The fact that only one of the accused pulled the trigger did not absolve the others as a result of the common purpose principle recognised in the South African legal system.
The court could not find any compelling reasons to deviate from the maximum sentence for murder with aggravating circumstances and found the mitigating factors that were advanced by the accused to be “flimsy”. “Neither of the accused demonstrated remorse for their heartless deed,” Phatudi stated.
Ramakgaga and Mphanga were further sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each on charges of possession of a fire arm and ammunition. Phatudi ordered that the additional sentences be taken together and served concurrently with the life sentences.
Phatudi mentioned that the right to live is protected in the Constitution and that the accused violated this right of the deceased. “The sentence should fit the accused, the crime and be in the interest not only of the community out there, but in the interests of justice,” he said.
The convicted men were informed that they have the right to appeal to a higher court but that that avenue may only be explored after Phatudi has entertained such an application and found that there is a possibility that another court may reach a different conclusion.

Story and photos: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com

Featured photo: George Phatudi, Judge of the Limpopo Division of the High Court.