Deacon murders: Gruesome details revealed in plea deal
Lazarus Mahlo made a plea agreement with the state and will testify as a state witness against Sophie Mmako and Casper Mudau.
POLOKWANE – Some gruesome details surrounding the murder of Lizette and Hettie Deacon were revealed in the Limpopo High Court: Polokwane Division yesterday (August 3).
One of the accused, Lazarus Mahlo, made a plea agreement with the state. As a result, Mahlo was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment as he pleaded guilty to one charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances, as well as two counts of murder.
He will turn state witness and testify against Sophie Mmako and Casper Mudau when they return to the high court from January 16-27, 2023.
Mahlo revealed that on the day of the murder Mmako, who is considered the mastermind of the murders, did ‘not want anyone to get hurt’.
“In his plea agreement, the accused stated that on September 10, 2020, he entered the Deacon’s house. He said Mmako (accused one) complained that the Deacons did not pay her accordingly,” National Prosecuting Authority Limpopo spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi explained in a statement.
The plan was reportedly to only rob the women. Mahlo admitted that he asked Owen, who is still sought, to assist with the robbery. “Mahlo, Owen and Mudau (accused four) went to the ladies’ house in Welgelegen and upon arrival, Mmako provided them with knives as well as showed them a spot where they can hide inside the house,” Malabi-Dzhangi added.
When Hettie and Lizette arrived at their home, they were instructed to lie down by the accused, the plea reads. “In the process, Owen stabbed Lizette multiple times and then strangled Hettie with a rope. The three then loaded the deceased into their motor vehicle and robbed them of R200 and bottles of whiskey,” she said.
Mahlo admitted that he drove the deceased’s car to Mankweng to drop off the bottles of whiskey at his house. “He then proceeded to Chuenespoort, where they were chased by the police and fled the area. In his plea, Mahlo said after his arrest he co-operated with the police and confessed immediately as he realised what he did was very wrong and wanted the family to find closure,” Malabi-Dzhangi said.
Advocate Kobus Jacobs, in aggravation of sentence, said Hettie and Lizette’s deaths could have been avoided and the deceased’s family lost a mother, wife, daughter, grandmother and members of their family who played a very important role in their lives. He added the offences emanated from greed.
Mmako is still out on bail while Mudau will remain in custody.
Also read: Family upset by Deacon murder suspect’s release
