It wasn't the real me - Nel
2008-11-17 22:33
Hilda Fourie
Mafikeng - "I don't believe I should be punished, because I was not myself when it happened.
"To punish me for something the real me didn't do, is like punishing someone for another person's crime," said Johann Nel, the so-called Skierlik shooter, according to a pre-sentencing report submitted at the Mmabatho High Court on Monday.
Nel pleaded guilty to four charges of murder, 11 of attempted murder and one each for the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Judge Ronald Hendricks found him guilty on these charges.
'I don't think even he knows'
On January 14 this year Nel went to the Skierlik informal settlement outside Swartruggens and started shooting.
Sivuyile Peye, 37, Enoch Tshepo Matshelanoka, 10, Anna Moiphitlhi, 31 and her two-month-old baby Elizabeth Keditlhotse died in the shootings.
Another eight people were wounded and three escaped when Nel shot at them.
Dr Irma Labuschagne, a forensic criminologist, said in her evidence in mitigation of punishment the big question was why he did it.
"I don't think even he knows."
Labuschagne described the incident as a "racist killing spree". One could even call it a hate crime, she said.
Nel went to shoot people of colour. He did not go to a white school and kill white children, she testified.
"I get the impression he didn't really know who he shot or why he had shot those particular people.
"I don't believe he had intended to kill a baby or a child, but he did go there to kill.
"Nobody has the exact answer as to why he did what he did.
"When I ask him 'What got into you?' he tells me he can't remember."
Can't remember much of shooting
According to Labuschagne's pre-sentencing report Nel said he couldn't remember much of the incident.
And he was uncertain about the parts he could remember.
"Sometimes I don't know what I remember and what I've heard from others and what I've read in the papers," he said according to the report.
Labuschagne testified that Nel, his brother Heinrich, 23, and a friend had discussed what they could do to resolve the problem of farm attacks and farm murders, which confronted them daily.
She said the seed of the events that played out on January 14 was planted in Nel's head long before.
But Nel's planning was poor, Labuschagne said. He did not lock the doors of his parents' farmhouse outside Swartruggens when he left, failed to cover his face and did not remember to take any drinking water along.
She said it would have been much more catastrophic if he had indeed planned it in more detail.
The case continues.
- Beeld