Bus murders racist - judge

2003-05-02 16:15

Pretoria - De Wet Kritzinger's shooting spree on a Pretoria bus in 2000 which left three people dead and four wounded was a racist, unscrupulous and unjustifiable deed, Judge Dion Basson said on Friday.

"You coolly, calmly... cold-bloodedly prepared to shoot people," he said in the Pretoria High Court before sentencing Kritzinger to three life terms plus 40 years in jail.

Kritzinger had testified he had 26 bullets and wanted to shoot many more people, Basson said.

"You have no remorse, which marks your deed as unscrupulous."

According to Kritzinger's testimony, he decided to shoot the people so he could get killed by police himself. His death would allow his ex-wife to remarry. If she did so while he was still alive, it would be a sin in his eyes.

Kritzinger's evidence questioned

But Basson questioned that evidence, saying Kritzinger had made plans to escape in case police arrived.

He had worn two sets of clothes so he could remove the outer, bloodied garments after the shooting. He had also hidden away from police for over two years.

Another defence put forward was the occurrence of farm attacks, which Kritzinger had said he believed were planned by the government.

He testified that many more innocent whites than blacks were killed, and that he wanted to send a message to the government that more white people could start killing blacks if the farm attacks did not stop.

He also regarded his religion as justification for his deeds.

Religion 'can't cover up criminal deeds'

Basson said he would not address the merits of Kritzinger's religious or political beliefs.

"But there are limits to how one practises one's religion. One cannot use religion to cover up one's criminal conduct."

The same applied to political goals, the judge said.

"The public needs to be protected against such conduct. Innocent members of the public were mowed down and political and religious goals are presented as justification."

The judicial system had certain norms, like the right to human dignity and the right to life, he said.

"You did not hesitate to trample upon these rights."

Kritzinger had conceded he identified black people as his target because of the colour of their skin.

"Therefore it was also a racist deed. You denied their human dignity. You denied and scorned their humanity."

The judicial system recognised the human dignity and equality of each citizen, Basson said.

"You trampled upon these principles by killing people because they were black."

Murders planned in cold blood

The defence contended that Kritzinger had been under stress when he committed the crimes. But Basson said the murders were planned in cold blood. Kritzinger had not acted on the spur of the moment or while in an emotional storm and stress situation.

There was a possibility that he would commit similar deeds.

"There is no guarantee that a similar trigger could not arise again that would prompt you to kill innocent people again in terms of your religious convictions."

The only suitable punishment was the heaviest one possible.

In terms of the law, even a first offender should be jailed for life unless compelling and substantive circumstances indicated a lighter sentence was the right one. Clearly no such circumstances existed, Basson said.

Of the four complainants in the attempted murder charges, he said: "They were very lucky to get off alive. You testified you still wanted to shoot more."

In addition to the three life sentences on the murder charges, Basson handed down a 10-year sentence for each of the four attempted murder counts.

Outside court defence counsel Louiza van der Walt told reporters she had received no instructions regarding a possible appeal.

- SAPA