News / Africa
Zimbabwean armed robbers jailed for life in South Africa
01 Jul 2015 at 07:03hrs | Views
TWO Zimbabwean armed robbers were last week each jailed for life and an additional 25 years in prison by the Pretoria High Court in South Africa after they were convicted of murder.
Bismack Dick, 28, and Samuel Mabhena, 31, were convicted of gunning down Mauritz Oberholzer, 65, at 2 AM on September 5,2012. Dick shot Oberholzer through the nose with the bullet ending up in his neck.
Mabhena and Dick, who were part of a gang whose other members are still at large, 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 house.
Mabhena and Dick were last week each sentenced to life imprisonment by Judge Letty Molopa- Sethosa.
They were both slapped with an additional 25 years each in prison.
Mabhena was already serving a 30-year jail term for killing former heavyweight boxing champion, Corrie Sanders.
Sanders, who was 46 at the time of his death, was shot in the stomach and arm in September 2012 while attending his nephew's birthday celebrations in the town of Brits by Mabhena and his accomplices.
Sanders stunned the boxing world in 2003 by taking the WBO tide from Wladimir Klitschko.
Handing down her judgment, Molopa-Sethosa said the two had shown no remorse for their actions in the Oberholzer slaying and blatantly refused to take ownership for their actions.
"Society is tired of criminals committing crimes with no respect for human life. Murder in such a manner is a heinous and despicable offence that our communities have had to endure. It's up to us to send a strong message that 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 of murder on the community; the grievousness of the crimes and did not take into consideration the two criminals' personal circumstances.
Molopa-Sethosa turned down their request arguing that no compelling or substantial circumstances had been submitted that would warrant anything less than the prescribed minimum term she had given to the two.
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 his brother's widow, Marie, had been struggling immensely ever since.
"She still has nightmares and has had to sell their family home as she could no longer stay in that house. We're satisfied with the judgment and the 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 murder."
Sanders' brother, Mike, was in court to support the family as he knew them well and because the man who killed his own brother was involved. Mabhena is serving 30 years for his role in killing Sanders.
Bismack Dick, 28, and Samuel Mabhena, 31, were convicted of gunning down Mauritz Oberholzer, 65, at 2 AM on September 5,2012. Dick shot Oberholzer through the nose with the bullet ending up in his neck.
Mabhena and Dick, who were part of a gang whose other members are still at large, 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 house.
Mabhena and Dick were last week each sentenced to life imprisonment by Judge Letty Molopa- Sethosa.
They were both slapped with an additional 25 years each in prison.
Mabhena was already serving a 30-year jail term for killing former heavyweight boxing champion, Corrie Sanders.
Sanders, who was 46 at the time of his death, was shot in the stomach and arm in September 2012 while attending his nephew's birthday celebrations in the town of Brits by Mabhena and his accomplices.
Sanders stunned the boxing world in 2003 by taking the WBO tide from Wladimir Klitschko.
"Society is tired of criminals committing crimes with no respect for human life. Murder in such a manner is a heinous and despicable offence that our communities have had to endure. It's up to us to send a strong message that 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 of murder on the community; the grievousness of the crimes and did not take into consideration the two criminals' personal circumstances.
Molopa-Sethosa turned down their request arguing that no compelling or substantial circumstances had been submitted that would warrant anything less than the prescribed minimum term she had given to the two.
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 his brother's widow, Marie, had been struggling immensely ever since.
"She still has nightmares and has had to sell their family home as she could no longer stay in that house. We're satisfied with the judgment and the 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 murder."
Sanders' brother, Mike, was in court to support the family as he knew them well and because the man who killed his own brother was involved. Mabhena is serving 30 years for his role in killing Sanders.
Source - chronicle
