Murderer of Alberts sentenced to 113 years imprisonment
Murder accused Edward Thomas Morton (50) was sentenced to an effective 113 years imprisonment on the nine charges against him, on Thursday, September 10, including the murder of Boksburg resident Wayne Alberts, early this year.
Alberts, a father of three, went missing on Valentine’s Day, February 14, and was reported missing from Witfield three days later, on February 17.
The investigation into Alberts’s death sparked to life on February 16, when the Sunnyside SAPS members stopped and searched a silver BMW with three occupants. They found an unlicensed firearm and an illegal substance.
The suspects were arrested, but released after 48 hours for further investigation.
Only on February 21, did it come to the attention of the SAPS that Alberts had gone missing with his father’s silver BMW, when the hather reported his motor vehicle stolen.
Forensic experts were sent to the vehicle to look for any leads.
Boksburg North detectives then formed a team and searched the Germiston and Primrose areas for clues. The only contact they had was the missing person’s father, with whom they met regularly.
The unlicensed firearm was also forwarded to Forensics.
On March 25, the Boksburg North detectives team split into two groups – one group went to Pretoria and the other left for Durban, to follow up positive leads they had received.
The team that was working in Pretoria apprehended a suspect – Edward Thomas Morton.
The team in Durban reacted to information provided by Morton and apprehended a female suspect, Dorinda Ann Barnard.
Upon further investigation, the detectives were lead to Kliprivier, where Morton pointed out to the officers the scene where he left Alberts.
On August 6, Morton pleaded guilty in court and his confession was read out.
The confession revealed some of the grisly details which shattered the lives of Alberts’s family members.
He admitted to handcuffing Alberts, assaulting him and dumping him in a veld near Kliprivier.
In the Vereeniging High Court, Morton told how, on the night of Alberts’s murder, he forced his victim into the silver BMW before driving off with him.
Alberts was forced out of the vehicle, was tied up and beaten. When he tried to fight back, Morton strangled him.
Alberts was left in the veld and Morton drove off to Pretoria with the female suspect (who was arrested in Durban) in the BMW, to buy crystal meth.
The body was discovered by Rand Water Security on February 25.
Morton also admitted to the murder of an Edenvale businessman, Louis Deneeghere, in 2010.
He was sentenced to two life terms, an effective 50 years imprisonment, on the two charges of premeditated murder.
He also received eight years for kidnapping, 30 years for two charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, 14 years for two charges of possession of a firearm, three years for possession of ammunition and eight years imprisonment for residential burglary.
Morton’s previous convictions include a string of theft charges from the 1980s, as well as a robbery conviction for which he was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment.
These sentences total 113 years in prison.
In the pre-sentence report handed to the court, Morton stated that he is a person who “gets aggressive easily, sometimes without reason”. He also admitted that he had tried to commit suicide while in custody.
In the report, Morton mentioned to officials that he will not use drugs while in prison, because drugs had destroyed his life and were the reason he committed the crimes.
The investigating officer, W/O Gideon O’Neill, was highly praised by Alberts’s for his dedication in the investigations.
Christine van Lingen, Alberts’s mother, told the Bedfordview and Edenvale News she is relieved that Morton has been sentenced, but knows it will not bring back her son.
“O’Neil worked 24 hours a day on this case. Without him, there would not be a case against these two,” she added.
The trial against Barnard, the second accused, is still ongoing.
She pleaded not guilty in the Vereeniging High Court and was granted a separation of trial, which means she will be tried separately for her role in the murder of Alberts.
Her case was postponed to November 4 for further investigation.
Wayne Alberts found dead in Kliprivier during February
Alberts‘ murder suspects appear in court
