Daniël Botha’s murderer, co-accused to be sentenced in April
The co-accused were found guilty of assault GBH and released on bail.
The three suspects in the murder of Daniël Botha, who was assaulted at Dingo’s Pub, in Lakefield, in the early hours of July 26, 2018, have been found guilty and will learn their fate on April 14.
Gideon Fourie, Jacques de Lange and Sampie Hearn appeared in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court on February 23 facing charges of murder.
Magistrate Ian Cox found Fourie guilty of murder while Hearn and de Lange were found guilty of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Fourie, who was out on R5 000 bail, had his bail revoked and his two accused’s bail was extended.
Events on that fatal day
Daniël went to play action cricket in Edenvale after which he and a friend went to the pub.
According to Benoni SAPS spokesperson Nomsa Sekele at the time, a fight broke out and Daniël was severely assaulted and sustained head injuries.
Following the assault, Fourie took Botha to hospital and left him there.
Daniël’s family had to make the difficult choice of taking him off life support three days later when he was declared brain dead.
Fourie handed himself over to the police on July 31 and initially, a case of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm was opened at the Benoni SAPS but the charge was amended to murder when Botha died of his injuries.
Also Read: Accused granted R5 000 bail in Lakefield pub murder case
Daniël, who died at the age of 26, would have turned 31 this year.
He lived in Boksburg South from birth and worked at Land Rover East Rand.
The three accused were all aged 22 at the time of the incident.
Wrong place
Daniël’s father, Danie Botha (56), spoke to the Benoni City Times today (February 24).
He welcomed the judgement, however, expressed disappointment with the outcome of the case for the two co-accused.
“I was hoping that the two other accused would be found guilty of murder because they were also involved.
“My son was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
“Daniël was a peacemaker. He never liked getting into fights.”
The father and son lived in Parkrand and Danie said the death of his son has left him severely shattered.
“I went for counselling four times after his death but it didn’t work. I ended up going for counselling at church, which helped.”
Last week, on Daniël’s birthday (February 12), Danie said he visited his gravesite in Fourways.
“I bought flowers and I went to sit at his grave. I never thought I would look for flowers in my life to put them on my son’s grave ,” said Danie.
Also Read: Court in brief – pub murder case continues
