The Evander Regional Court magistrate, Charmaine la Marque, has postponed the sentencing of Reghard Elmes (23), who was recently convicted of murder, to November 12.

Elmes was found guilty on September 15 of murdering a mentally disturbed man in 2022. The conviction stems from a shooting on Nelson Mandela Drive in Secunda on November 23, 2022.

Today, October 31, the court heard from a social worker who compiled a pre-sentencing report on Elmes, who is in holding at the Bethal Correctional Centre.

The social worker testified Elmes is physically and mentally well, although he does get headaches when thinking about the case at hand.

“The accused stated that he can answer questions logically and can distinguish between right and wrong,” said the social worker.

She testified that although Elmes does not take full responsibility for the charge, he has deep remorse for the incident. The social worker reported that at the time of the shooting, Elmes was an employee at StratconRisk and responded to information of a house burglary at around 08:00.

In her report, the social worker relayed Elmes’ version of what transpired on the day of the shooting, including that he and two co-workers pursued the deceased. The man was shot with a paintball gun while running away.

Elmes stopped his vehicle at a bus stop where the suspect had run across the street. The man threw stones at the vehicle’s windscreen, damaging it.

Elmes got out of his vehicle with his firearm in hand towards the suspect. The suspect continued to throw stones in Elmes’ direction.

ALSO CHECK: eMbalenhle man sentenced to 18 years in jail for killing his girlfriend

“He (Elmes) said he ordered the suspect to lie on the ground. The suspect continued to throw rocks, and Elmes was struck on the back of the head with one. ”

Elmes was treated and transported to a hospital. The social worker also reported the manner in which his fiancée described him.

“The accused is reported as a caring person who would do his best to assist anyone. He would go out of his way if it means he can help someone. It was further stated that he is a kind-hearted person and will never do anything to hurt another person,” said the social worker.

Elmes’s attorney, Evert Underhay, said his client did not plan the murder nor was there a motive, and asked that the court consider the minimum sentence of eight years.

The state argued that Elmes was a 20-year-old adult at the time of the incident and not a juvenile, and that this was a violent offence where Elmes shot at the victim five times, of which three rounds struck the victim.