'Jesus killer' may never go free
2007-05-03 22:08
Johannesburg - Jimmy Maketta, the serial killer/rapist who terrorised Western Cape communities for 11 years, was declared a dangerous criminal in the Cape High Court on Thursday when he appeared for sentencing on 16 counts of murder and 19 of rape.
He appeared before Judge Abie Motala, who said Maketta would be detained in prison for 25 years.
After this, he would be brought before the High Court again for a judge to assess whether he was suitable for release back into the community.
Effectively, this means Maketta never will become eligible for parole, and that his release from prison, if ever, will depend on the ruling of a judge, and not on the prison authorities.
However, many of the people attending the trial apparently did not realise the significance of Maketta being declared a dangerous criminal.
'Waiting for justice'
Women from Phillipi after hearing the verdict that the "Jesus Killer" had been sentenced to 25 years' jail, shouted: "We're still in bondage because its our children who get killed. We're still waiting for justice."
They brandished a large banner with the picture of Kim Abrahams in her pre-school graduation outfit.
A woman came running out of the court screaming in anger and swearing when she heard the judgment.
And, crowds of people from Phillipi protested on the steps outside the High Court, chanting slogans and talking to the media.
After informing Maketta of his fate, the judge said the investigating officer, captain Jonathon Morris of the organised crime unit, deserved the highest praise.
Cop took two weeks to nail Maketta
The judge said Morris was a credit to the police for the manner in which he had brought to book a dangerous criminal who had committed 16 murders.
It had taken Morris only two weeks to track down a criminal who would otherwise have continued his long rampage of rape and murder.
Morris, himself, told the court that the case landed on his lap after an initial sloppy investigation had led to the arrest of the wrong person.
- SAPA