IOL|A MAN who was part of the gang convicted for killing former heavyweight boxing champion Corrie Sanders, has now been convicted for the robbery and murder of a smallholding owner by the High Court in Pretoria.
Zimbabwean national Samuel Mabena, 31, and co-accused Bismack Dick, 28, also from Zimbabwe, stormed into the Brits home of Mauritz Oberholzer, 65, at 2am on September 5, 2012, and shot him through the nose with the bullet ending up in his neck.
The pair – who were part of a gang whose other members were not apprehended – had torn the security door out of its hinges, broke down the front door and the couple’s bedroom door before ripping out a safe from the wall.
They stole several firearms and other belongings from the home.
Mabena and Dick were, last week, each sentenced to life imprisonment plus an additional 25 years by Judge Letty Molopa-Sethosa.
Handing down her judgment, Judge Molopa-Sethosa said the two had shown no remorse for their actions and blatantly refused to take ownership of their actions.
Society was tired of criminals committing crimes with no respect for human life, she said.
“Murder in such a manner is a heinous and despicable offence by the youth that our communities have had to endure. It is up to us to send a strong message this will not be tolerated any longer,” she said.
Legal representatives for both men applied for leave to appeal against the judgment and sentencing.
They said the judge had over-emphasised the impact on the community, the grievousness of the crimes and did not take into consideration their personal circumstances.
Their request was refused by Judge Molopa-Sethosa who said no compelling or substantial circumstances had been submitted that would warrant anything less than the prescribed minimum term she had meted out in the matter.
After sentencing, Oberholzer’s family cried with relief. They said they were still struggling to come to terms with the killing.
Younger brother, Pieter Oberholzer, said the victim’s wife Marie had been struggling immensely.
“She still has nightmares and has had to sell their family home as she could no longer stay in that house. We are satisfied with the judgment and work of the police, but things will never be the same again for any of us,” he said.
“She misses him, especially during the birthdays and anniversaries because they had been married for 25 years before his senseless killing,” said Oberholzer.
Sanders’s brother Mike was in court to support the family as he knew them well and because the man who killed his brother was involved. Mabena is serving 30 years for his role in killing Sanders.- IOL