Magistrate Mitzi Schutte handed down her sentence in the Benoni Regional Court, on April 9.
Ehlers shot dead Leon Roos (44) at the Petit pub.
Ehlers was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for murder, five years for the unlawful possession of a firearm and 12 months for the unlawful possession of ammunition.
The 12 month sentence will run concurrently with the five year sentence, meaning Ehlers will serve an effective 20 years.
Schutte said she took the following into account in sentence mitigation:
- It was the first time Ehlers was convicted of murder and gun-related crimes.
- He has a dependent child of 10 years old and is a breadwinner.
- Alcohol played a role in the shooting incident.
- He has employment through his business D C Protection Polygraph Services.
Aggravating circumstances include:
- Roos had three children.
- His mother, Marie, was dependent on financial support from Roos.
- Ehlers showed no remorse for the crime.
- Ehlers was found to have caused the argument which resulted in the shooting.
- He did not abandon the fight; choosing to shoot Roos.
Defence advocate JP Myburgh has applied for leave to appeal on behalf of his client.
The grounds for the appeal will be made as a written submission.
Ehlers will serve his sentence in Modderbee Prison.
Read next week’s edition of the Benoni City Times for the full story.
