Lindray Khakhu was on 27 March sentenced to life imprisonment at the High Court in Johannesburg sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court for the murder of three-year-old Luke Tibbetts.
“I am pleased that the court found him guilty. I don’t know what we would have done if it didn’t turn out this way,” said Luke’s father, Derrick Petersen.
Khakhu fired a shot that hit Luke in the head in Westbury on 2 August last year.
Luke was sitting on his mother’s lap in a car as Khakhu shot at Keenan Mokwena, who was travelling in another car.
The stray bullet wounds killed Luke after spending six days in the hospital. Mokwena was wounded.
“This court finds that the accused acted with dolus eventualis when he fired the shot that killed Luke Tibbetts,” said Judge Matthew Klein as he read out his judgment.
Petersen added, “I am very happy that this is finally over and justice has prevailed. It has been a hard time for us but knowing that he will pay in jail for what he did makes me happy”.
Khakhu had previously admitted on 16 March that a bullet from his gun might have shot Luke in the head.
The driver of the vehicle Luke was travelling in (Kanita Thomas) on 12 March told the court that she hit the brakes after hearing a loud bang in the car.
According to Thomas, Luke’s mother, Candice Tibbetts was screaming, “Oh, Lord Jesus, they shot my son.”
A seemingly terrified Thomas said she turned around and saw blood and then quickly drove to the hospital.
Luke’s uncle Llewellyn Valentine said Luke’s death left the family and the Westbury community shattered.
Khakhu was further found guilty on another count of murder for which he also received a life sentence; five counts of attempted murder and 9 counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, which earned him a further 25 years in jail.
He had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
