VIDEOS: Family of slain Chrisania finds comfort in justice of two life sentence

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Chrisania’s grandmother, June Geswindt (51).

The family of the little girl who was kidnapped, raped and killed have welcomed the sentence recently imposed on her attacker.

They thanked everybody involved, including the police, for their tireless work, their attention to detail and their consideration throughout the whole process of the case.

The accused, 19-year-old Ashley Johnson of Driehoek, kidnapped, raped and murdered Chrisania Carelse (10) of Ramaphosa, last year.

Chrisania’s naked body was found dumped in the veld next to the ZCC Church in Elsburg Road on April 1, last year. Her body had stab wounds to the neck and upper legs.

Police eventually arrested Johnson, who was 18 at the time. Johnson made several court appearances before he was recently convicted and, earlier this month, sentenced to two life terms behind bars for the murder and rape in the South Gauteng High Court.

The court also handed down an additional eight years for the kidnapping.

Grandmother

Chrisania’s grandmother June Geswindt (51) said the community should now be relieved and thankful that the killer will be off the streets for a long time.

“If he had not been sent to prison, he would have continued to attack others and leave more misery in the community. As a family, we are now happy that he got what he deserves for what he had done to our child,” she said.

Geswindt said while they are satisfied with the guilty verdict, the little girl’s death has been difficult to cope with.

“Seeing the attacker during the court proceedings was traumatic.

“Whenever I saw him at court, my body would start to shake, my blood pressure went up, and at one point I collapsed in the court public seating area,” said Geswindt.

Mother

Chrisania’s mother, Samantha Carelse, said: “This will help us get closure and heal. In the 19 months since Chrisania’s death, we experienced so much pain of losing a little daughter.

“I was present at the trial and the sentencing. I’m happy justice has finally been done. I’m a bit better now emotionally.”