Reghard Elmes (23), a security officer who was sentenced to seven years in prison for murder on November 12, appeared in the Evander Regional Court on December 12, for a High Court appeal.

Magistrate Charmaine la Marque postponed the matter to December 15 for her judgment on the appeal.

He remains in custody.

Elmes was sentenced to seven years in prison for murdering a man in a shooting incident on Nelson Mandela Drive in Secunda on November 23, 2022.

Elmes advocate Jan van Rensburg said on the day of sentencing that the defence appeals the outcome based on the following points:
* He was under an unlawful attack;
* There were no medical reports that the deceased was mentally ill;
* He feared for his life and was being pelted with stones;
* He acted in self-defence;
* The deceased intended to harm the Elmes;
* He was responding to information about a possible burglary;
* He was injured and had no other means but to shoot;
* His intention was not to kill the deceased but to stop him;

In the sentencing, Magistrate la Marque said that she rejected Elmes’ claim of self-defence and that he still tried to justify his conduct, which is a lack of remorse and failure to accept responsibility.

See the sentencing article here: https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/news-headlines/2025/11/19/elmes-23-gets-7-years-for-murder-2/