BENONI – The sentencing in the murder case against Raymond Metz and five co-accused, including his brothers and their mother, has once again been postponed.

In April 2024, Metz and his brothers Shane, Simon, and Anton ‘Babatjie’, along with their mother, Lindi Falch, were found guilty of the murder of Benjamin Lotz from Leeuhof, Vereeniging.

The accused were due to be sentenced on June 30 in the Benoni Circuit High Court, but due to further delays in finalising pre-sentencing reports, the court was unable to proceed.

Judge Carla van Veenendal has postponed the matter to the week of September 22.

Meanwhile, bail for all six accused has been extended. The court had ruled last year that the group was jointly responsible for the fatal attack on Lotz after a violent attack at his home.

The conflict allegedly began when Lotz confronted Raymond and a friend, Estifaan Delport, over loud music they were playing in a field across from his house.

Later that evening, Estifaan, Raymond, his brothers, and their mother went to Lotz’s home and attacked him with pangas, shovels, and bricks.

Lotz later died from the injuries he sustained during the attack. Delport turned state witness, and the charges against him were withdrawn.

The Lotz family has expressed frustration over the repeated delays and the ongoing extension of bail for the accused — a painful wait for justice now stretching into its fourth year.

The court has, however, stressed its commitment to delivering a thorough and informed sentence.

CAPTION: The Metz brothers and their mother in the dock. Archive photo: Christiaan Cloete.