Elderly man's killers get life
2010-09-03 17:06
Pretoria - The three men who "nonchalantly and callously" murdered an elderly Dutch engineer in front of his wife four years ago were on Friday given life sentences in the North Gauteng High Court.
Judge Sulet Potterill sentenced Elliot Calvin Ranape, aged 25, Lucas Velly Sefoka, aged 30, and Thabo Mamagobo, aged 26, to life imprisonment for murdering 66-year-old Sven Tideman at his house in Rietondale, Pretoria, in August 2006.
They were also sentenced to between 18 and 23 years imprisonment on charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. These sentences will run concurrently with their life sentences.
Judge Potterill said although Sefoka and Mamagobo were first offenders and had already spent more than two years in jail awaiting trial, the robbery was committed with such excessive force and caused so much trauma that the ultimate sentence should be imposed.
"The robbery included a murder that was nonchalantly executed without regard for life.
"There was absolutely no need to murder to facilitate the robbery," she said.
No remorse
The judge said the retired couple were both slim, tiny people who were caught unprepared in their bed in the early hours of the morning.
"The accused had immediate control of the scene, but callously shot the deceased.
"...The evidence was that one of them remarked "sorry" after shooting the deceased before leaving the property.
"However, subjectively this was not seen as remorse by Mrs Tideman. It upset her even more and she started crying when she testified about this.
"...In their further treatment of Mrs Tideman, there was no kindness that could have manifested as remorse," she said.
Judge Potterill rejected argument that Mr Tideman had caused his own death by trying to protect his wife.
She said Mrs Tideman had heard the trigger first before her husband tried to protect her by putting his arm over her.
Traumatised
"There was no resistance to the robbery from the pair asleep in their beds. There was also no resistance when they woke up.
"The robbery was violent. They forcefully removed Mrs Tideman's wedding ring, leaving an open wound on her finger.
"They traumatised her by insisting that she lie still while her husband was bleeding to death next to her.
"They slapped her, causing an open wound on her face and leaving her with blood in her mouth.
"None of the goods were recovered, some of which had great sentimental value to Mrs Tideman.
"The use of firearms... is aggravating. It was a robbery with excessive use of force causing much trauma," the judge added.
Ranape and Mamagobo were refused leave to appeal against their convictions, but granted leave to appeal against their sentences.
- SAPA