'I'm sorry for what I did'
2008-05-23 20:26
Grahamstown - Two young men were convicted of the murder and robbery of an elderly King William's Town businessman, in the Grahamstown High Court on Friday.
Appearing before acting-Judge Philip Zilwa were Anele Wotsetse, 21, of King William's Town and Sixolisile Kunene, 21, of Ginsberg.
Both pleaded guilty to the murder and robbery of Henry Jones, 69, at his Kings Road residence in September last year.
Sentencing was postponed to June 30 at the request of the pair's lawyers, for a probation officer's report.
In their written pleas, both admitted to breaking into Jones' house and assaulting him.
They said they tied him to a wardrobe with his neckties and bound his head with bandages, "so he would not make a noise".
They stabbed Jones and then robbed him of his Toyota Camry, two Nokia cellphones, R150 in cash and a hi-fi set.
According to the post mortem autopsy Jones was stabbed 13 times, 12 in the chest and once in the neck. The cause of his death was attributed to a stab wound to the heart.
In their plea statements the pair said they returned to the house two hours later, after selling some of the stolen items in the township.
Jones was still alive.
"On our return we intended to steal the television set because one of our buyers (of stolen goods) wanted us to get one for him.
"We found the deceased had recovered a little and was conscious. It looked like he was getting free. He said that he was going to report the matter to the police.
"Kunene said we must kill him because he (Kunene) had been arrested before and the police knew him. They have his photo.
"So we both stabbed him again and left."
Only Wotsetse, who was attending school when he committed the crimes, expressed remorse.
"This is the first time I have committed a crime and I am very sorry," he said.
- SAPA