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Teen killers get 20 years
02/05/2007 20:50 - (SA)
Pietermaritzburg - Two youths, aged 15 and 17, who murdered an 86-year-old pensioner at her Mooi River home and stole her car in February have been sentenced to 20 years' jail.
They also were sentenced in Pietermaritzburg High Court by KwaZulu-Natal Judge-President Vuka Tshabalala to 15 years' jail for aggravated robbery for stealing their victim's car.
The 15-year-old was well known to victim Gladys Burdett as she paid for his schooling and employed his mother. He was the mastermind behind her murder and the theft of her car.
The youths invaded Burdett's home while she was eating, choked her with electric cord, put a duvet over her head and bundled her into the boot of her car in which they drove off.
The youths within arrested within hours of the murder.
Acted like hardened criminals
Prosecutor Candy Kander said they decided to kill Burdett so that she could not report them for stealing her car.
They invaded her home and attacked her in the sanctity of her own home.
They did not use drugs or alcohol and, notwithstanding their youth, had acted like hardened criminals when they attacked her.
The 17-year-old admitted a previous conviction for aggravated assault for which he was sentenced to nine months' correctional supervision during which he had to perform community service.
Kander said his previous conviction and the murder and robbery of Burdett showed that he had a predeliction for violence.
The youths had lied about the ownership of the car when they were confronted by police and the 17-year-old had lied to a probation officer by telling her that he did not have a previous conviction.
Aggravated robbery
Judge Tshabalala said the youths had no option other than to plead guilty and their guilty plea could not be taken as a show of remorse.
They were also given 15-year sentences for the aggravated robbery of their victim's car. The sentences run concurrently with the 20-year murder terms.
Judge Tshabalala ordered that they serve at least two-thirds of their sentences before being considered for parole.
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