Life sentences for KZN robbers
2012-11-14 19:32
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Johannesburg - Six KwaZulu-Natal men were sentenced to three life sentences each by the KwaZulu-Natal High Court sitting in Ramsgate on Wednesday for robbing a pensioner paypoint.
Colonel Vincent Mdunge said they shot dead two Fidelity guards and a pensioner in Hibberdene.
"[They] stole a Nissan Sani double cab in Berea, Durban, before proceeding to Hibberdene, where they robbed a cash vehicle of an amount of R499 570 and assaulted pensioners and security guards with pistols," he said.
The robbers stole two firearms from the guards before fleeing, and opened fire on a police vehicle which gave chase.
Several police officers and a dog were wounded in the shoot-out.
"They tried to flee from the police and they attempted to hijack a Mercedes-Benz, but failed.
"They ran on foot and hid in the bushes where they were arrested by the police," said Mdunge.
Several rifles and the stolen money were found in their possession.
The court found them guilty of two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, three counts of murder, nine counts of attempted murder, malicious damage to property and eight counts of contravening the Firearms Control Act.
Judge Ploos van Amstel sentenced each of them to three life terms for murder, and 12 years' each for the attempted murder of each police officer.
He imposed an additional two years' each for wounding the police dog and a further 103 years each for the possession of high calibre firearms and ammunition. The sentences would run concurrently.
The men intend appealing their sentences in the same court on Thursday.
- SAPA
