THE father of Mark Lotter, the Montclair man who was left brain damaged after being assaulted on 20 September last year is unhappy with his son’s attacker’s sentence.
This after William Joubert (23) was sentenced to 10 years of correctional supervision, wholly suspended for five years at the Durban Regional Court this morning (Wednesday, 22 April). “I’m not happy with this sentence. I would’ve liked William to do jail time. This is his second offence. William is going to go back to his bad habits,” said Mark’s father, Dean who attended the sentencing.
Joubert, pleaded guilty to an attempted murder charge in February. The incident took place at a shop in Montclair, after Lotter decided to visit his ex-girlfriend’s family. Lotter was asked to leave the house and Joubert allegedly went after Lotter, who was on Kenyon Howden Road, where a scuffle ensued in a parking lot. The fight continued into a shop, where Lotter was repeatedly kicked in the head and beaten. In an article in the Sun soon after the assault, Mark’s condition was described as non-responsive.
At sentencing proceedings on Wednesday, social worker for the Department of Social Development, Hlengabatu Ngwane, requested that Joubert serve a prison term. Joubert’s attorney Raymond Samuels said his client needed therapy and that he needed to attend some sort of programme where Joubert can learn to manage his anger.
State prosecutor Danette Cole argued that the attack on Lotter was serious and vicious. Cole said it was clear that Joubert had an anger management problem and she requested he receive a prison term.
In handing down her sentence, magistrate Otto said there were aggravating circumstances from Lotter on the day of the incident. Otto added that it was clear Joubert could not control his temper. “The lives of two young men were ruined on that day,” she said.
She sentenced Joubert to 10 years’ correctional supervision, of which five years are wholly suspended. He was also sentenced to 384 hours of community service and must attend an anger management programme.
In October last year Joubert’s bail was denied. He has already served seven months in Westville prison.
