Man gets two life terms for murdering partner, son

The High Court, Gauteng Division, Joburg, sentenced a man to two terms of life imprisonment for the murder of his partner and five-year-old son.

He received 10 years’ imprisonment for the attempted murder of his teen stepson and an additional five years for arson.

The domestic violence incident occurred in Protea on August 26, 2022. The accused attacked his partner and set a bedroom on fire.

The attack was witnessed by their teenager, who tried to rescue the family, but the accused prevented him from doing so, locked the house, and fled the scene. The children later escaped.

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The woman died at the scene from burn injuries, while the five-year-old died in the hospital.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the surviving child, now 17, testified that he still has seizures caused by the incident.

He told the court that the events of that day remain traumatic, particularly seeing the death of his mother.

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“State Advocate Nkosinathi Zuma submitted that the lives lost could never be restored and that the family had been irreversibly affected by the tragedy. In sentencing, the court described the offences as extremely serious and deserving of the harshest punishment,” said Mjonondwane.

Mjonondwane said the NPA reiterates that human life is sacred and affirms its commitment to vigorously prosecuting cases of domestic violence. Such crimes will be met with the full might of the law to ensure justice for victims and serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders.