“A life is worth nothing these days. My child had her whole life ahead of her and it was taken away in seconds.”
This is how Esmeralda Delport expressed herself after sentence was handed down to Ramone Heymann (35), the man responsible for the hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of her daughter Shannon Sacco in the main street of Westenburg in March 2016.
Heymann was found guilty by the Mankweng Regional Court earlier this year on charges of culpable homicide, driving without a licence and failure to stop and render assistance after an accident. On Friday he was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment on the culpable homicide conviction of which two years were suspended. He was also fined R2 000 and had his driver’s licence suspended. At the time of the accident he did not possess a driver’s licence but later obtained one.
“There is no real justice for Shannon. This case again proved that the justice system is less in favour of the victim. We are not happy with the sentencing but there is nothing we can do about it,” Delport said.
She added that they would not appeal the sentence as it would be a waste of time. “Considering that the case has been dragging for more than three years, we will not waste more time by appealing the sentencing. We have made peace with the situation,” Delport said.
Shannon was a Grade 11 learner at Westenburg Secondary School at the time of her death. She was walking home from school when the Heymann’s car hit her. One of her friends called Delport about the accident. When she arrived at the scene her daughter had already been placed on a stretcher and her face was covered in blood. She succumbed to her injuries in a local hospital later the same day.
Heymann was arrested soon after the incident. He did not stop at the scene to wait for authorities but a bystander followed him home and informed the Police of his whereabouts.
He appeared in court soon afterwards and was granted bail of R1 500.
Story: RC Myburgh
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