On April 19, 2016, an unfathomable nightmare began for the van Rooyen family, of the Swart Mfolozi area.
Read: BREAKING NEWS: Two killed in farm attack
This nightmare would span the course of the next three years, but on July 12 this year, it finally ended.
Also read: No bail for Billy’s killers
Three years ago, when Billy van Rooyen and his father-in-law, Ronnie Lombard were murdered during a brutal farm attack, Karlien van Rooyen lost both her husband and her father. Last week, she shed tears as the remaining six accused were found guilty, and sentenced for their crimes of that night.
Also read: BREAKING NEWS: Farm attacker sentenced for Van Rooyen massacre
When sentencing began on July 11, the attorneys for each of the accused were afforded the opportunity to plead their clients’ cases to the court, in a bid for leniency when it came to handing down of the sentence.
Judge, Louis Barnard listened intently as each statement was put forward.
Arguments by the defense were based on the personal circumstances of the accused, and included limited education, disadvantaged backgrounds and their responsibility as breadwinners for large households.
The accused still maintained they were innocent, despite the guilty verdict.
Advocate, André Ludick, Prosecutor for the State, put it to the court the first two counts of murder could be seen as planned or premeditated, and in the case of robbery with aggravating circumstances, the minimum sentence was 15 years imprisonment. He called the April 2016 attack a heinous crime, and urged the court to treat the accused equally.
Victim impact statements were submitted as evidence by the State, and all parties were afforded the opportunity to view these before court was adjourned, and by the following day, the court room was packed with Swart Mfolozi residents eager to hear the verdict.
Also read: Community stands against farm attacks
More were waiting outside, which led to the windows and blinds of the Vryheid Magistrate Court C being left open so they could hear the proceedings.
They all listened intently as Judge Barnard brought down the hammer of justice on the convicted killers of Billy and Ronnie, declaring he was satisfied with the evidence of accomplice turned State Witness, Menzi Ntshele. He added Ntshele would receive indemnity.
Judge Barnard said the personal circumstances of the six accused had been considered, and were found to be not compelling enough for the court to overlook the heinousness of the crimes. He also stated each of the accused was employed at the time of the attack.
Also read: ‘Remember Billy as he was’
Owing to their earning a ‘good enough income to maintain themselves and others’, Judge Barnard continued, it could be concluded the motive for the attack was one of pure greed.
The accused, he added, attacked unsuspecting, innocent people who doing good for themselves and for others.
According to the victim impact reports, Billy van Rooyen gave back handsomely to the Swart Mfolozi community, and was known as someone they could count on.
Also read: #VryheidFarmAttacks – How killing the ‘Boer’ will eventually kill us all
These statements, by members of the community, describe how Boetie – as Billy was affectionately known – paid for the funeral expenses when a mother lost her daughter, put several residents’ children through school, even at a tertiary level, provided many of them with school uniforms, and helped families wherever he was able.
“Boetie had a good heart and never expected anything back,” read one statement.
After several references to Billy’s character in the victim impact statements, Judge Barnard pointed out that during Karlien’s testimony, both the stenographer and the interpreter were reduced to tears.
Also read: PART 1: Karlien van Rooyen’s chilling account of #VanRooyenFarmAttack
Also read: Part 2: Karlien van Rooyen’s chilling account of #VanRooyenFarmAttack
Also read: Part 3: Karlien van Rooyen’s chilling account of #VanRooyenFarmAttack
“The offenses are so serious, the personal circumstances of the accused will take a backseat,” he declared. “You will be met with the full force that the law has to offer. Life imprisonment is not meted out lightly. Each one deserving thereof should be removed from society for good.”
Also read: Part 4: Karlien van Rooyen’s chilling account of #VanRooyenFarmAttack
Also read: Part 5: Karlien van Rooyen’s chilling account of #VanRooyenFarmAttack
Also read: Part 6: Karlien van Rooyen’s chilling account of #VanRooyenFarmAttack
Then it was time – Msizeni Joseph Shezi, Gcinimali Dladla, Mngcineni Gazu, Lindokuhle Zulu, Themba Mhlanga and Mondli Nkosi rose from their seats at the Judge’s order and heard the sentence passed upon them as follows:
On the count of the murder of William James van Rooyen, all six accused were sentenced to life imprisonment, as well as an additional life sentence for the murder of Ronnie Lombard.
Each of the accused was also sentenced to an additional 15 years, on the count of robbery with aggravating circumstances, three years for assault GBH (grievous bodily harm) on Lodewyk van Rooyen, five years for the attempted murder of Karlien van Rooyen, and five years each on two counts of kidnapping.
Accused number one received a further eight for the unlawful possession of an AK-47, while accused number four received another five and eight years respectively, for weapons charges.
Court then adjourned and when each of the accused returned, they were afforded the opportunity to appeal their sentences, which they did.
However, based on the damning evidence against them, it was ruled that no other court would reasonably arrive at a different conclusion, and the application for leave to appeal was denied.
Also read: Judgement begins for Van Rooyen murder accused
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