3 in court for Clarens killings

2003-12-02 17:31

Bethlehem - A young man and two youths appeared on Tuesday in Bethlehem magistrate's court on charges of murdering three members of a family, police said.

They allegedly killed former politician Louis Badenhorst, 82, his wife Henrietta, 63, and daughter Mihanna, 55, at the weekend near Clarens in the eastern Free State.

The Badenhorsts, from Bloemfontein, were on a weekend visit to the area.

The suspects were Eugene Senkhane, 20, and two boys of 16 and 17 years old, said Captain Motarafi Ntepe.

Senkhane, who was under correctional supervision, worked as a part-time cleaner at the police station in Clarens as part of his required community service.

He also worked at the guest house in town from where the Badenhorst family were kidnapped, said Ntepe.

Senkhane would remain in custody until he appeared in court on January 20.

Bodies burnt beyond recognition

The two youths, who may not be named, were also remanded and must appear in court on January 15.

All three applied on Tuesday for legal aid, said Ntepe.

The trio are claimed to have driven the Badenhorsts in their vehicle to Kgubetshwana, a township near Clarens. There the vehicle was set alight, the three family members shot dead and their bodies burnt beyond recognition.

Johan Massyn of correctional services said on Tuesday Senkhane was sentenced in July 2002 to two years' imprisonment for stealing a computer.

In November 2002 his prison term was converted into correctional supervision after he had served a sixth of it.

This was in accordance with the specific article of the Criminal Procedure Act in terms of which he was sentenced.

It was also done in terms of Correctional Services policy, as Senkhane was a first offender with no history of violent crime, Massyn said.

One of the conditions was that his sentence would be converted to a prison term if he should commit a crime.

He was to be under correctional supervision for the computer theft until July 2004.

- SAPA