A 38-year-old Northern Cape man was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Colesberg Regional Court for murder after he stabbed a man to death during an argument over a dead sheep.
A 38-YEAR-old Northern Cape man, Victor Pietersen, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Colesberg Regional Court on Tuesday for the murder of Jim Booysen, 21, whom he became embroiled in an argument with over a dead sheep.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said on Wednesday that the incident took place on July 24 on a farm near Colesberg.
“It is alleged that Booysen’s girlfriend intervened during the argument and managed to separate them. The two men approached the owner of the farm for permission to eat the meat, who later instructed them to share it equally. The accused (Pietersen) later suggested that they must share with a third party, also residing on the farm, but the deceased refused,” said Senokoatsane.
He added that later that day, the two argued in front of Pietersen’s house and Pietersen produced a knife and stabbed Booysen in the chest.
“The deceased collapsed and died on the scene of the crime. The accused informed the farm owner and requested him to call an ambulance. The police were called to the scene and the accused was arrested.”
Senokoatsane stated that during the trial, the regional court prosecutor indicated that Pietersen had two previous convictions for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
“The prosecutor further informed the court that the accused and deceased knew each other for a very long time. He added that the deceased’s family is still struggling to accept the loss. The prosecutor advised the court that the accused failed to prove any substantial or compelling circumstances for the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.”
In an unrelated matter, the Colesberg Regional Court sentenced Gladman Retyu, 32, to five years imprisonment for attempted murder.
Police spokesperson Captain Olebogeng Tawana said Retyu was involved in a tavern brawl in Kuyasa during the early hours of March 6.
“The accused drew a knife and stabbed the victim in the back. The victim ran for cover and hid himself inside the tavern’s ablution facility,” said Tawana.
“The victim was later transported to the hospital to receive medical treatment. The accused was arrested and charged with attempted murder.”
The acting district commander of Pixley ka Seme, Brigadier Nomana Adonis, lauded the investigating officers for their “excellent investigative work” that resulted in the two convictions.
