A SENSE of closure was reached at the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday when the attackers of Monzi farmer Graeme Johnson were handed out hefty sentences.
Musa Zulu (27), Vusi Masinga (19) and Nkosingiphile Mthembu (25) appeared before Magistrate Sally Lauden, who reiterated the damage which the men had caused.
‘Criminals like you are a danger to society,’ reprimanded Lauden.
Regional Court Prosecutor Zakhele Nzuza asserted that there was no substantial evidence to warrant the court to deviate from the minimum sentence.
In respect of various counts to run concurrently, Zulu was sentenced to imprisonment totalling 24 years, Masinga to serve 38 years and Mthembu 30 years. The men were found guilty of hijacking, armed robbery, attempted murder and the possession of unlicensed firearms.
‘Your greed affects the entire community and the sentence imposed must send a clear message that crimes such as this be punished severely and act as a deterrent to others,’ added Lauden.
Johnson, doing his daily rounds on his property, encountered four smartly dressed men who claimed to be looking at the land.
When he attempted to drive away, the men pointed a firearm in his face and demanded him to get out of his vehicle. They shot him twice and made off with his diesel 4×4 Toyota Landcruiser.
One of the men turned State witness and said the plan was to sell Johnson’s vehicle in Mozambique for R120 000, which was to be split between the four.
‘The police have been brilliant, especially Warrant Officer Jabulani Mkhwanazi who has been helpful throughout this case not forgetting Warrant Officer Ram Ramkilowan as well as Sergeants Gert Malan and Wynard Walkinshaw,’ said Johnson.
‘I am glad that I can leave this all behind me and I am happy with the deserving sentence,’ he added.
‘I am grateful for the support from my family especially my dad and cousin Andrew who have been with me at every court case,’ he said.
21 NOVEMBER 2013
Farm attackers found guilty
THERE was an array of emotions at the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court as farmer Graeme Johnson awaited the verdict of his attackers.
But the case has been adjourned for final address and sentencing to 4 December and the accused are to remain in custody until then.
Magistrate Sally Lauden, recounting the traumatic sequence of Johnson’s hijacking and attempted murder in May last year, found all three men guilty of armed robbery and attempted murder.
Musa Zulu (27), Vusi Masinga (19) and Nkosingiphile Mthembu (25) hijacked and robbed the father of three at gunpoint on his property in Monzi, shooting him twice and driving off with his vehicle and leaving him for dead.
Masinga was found guilty for the possession of two firearms and six live rounds of ammunition and Zulu guilty for the possession of a stolen vehicle.
‘It has been very emotionally taxing, but I have a solid support structure,’ said Johnson.
‘Every day I am just so alert and aware of everything. My family and I have upped the security at our home – gates, alarms, beams and weapons, but there is a limit to the things you can do to ensure your safety,’ he added.
‘I carry a weapon with me in my home whether I am watching television, making a cup of coffee or checking on my sleeping children. I am just always on guard. Constantly,’ he said.
‘But otherwise, we are all fine and glad that this is all finally coming to an end soon,’ added Johnson.
Johnson, doing his daily rounds on his property, encountered four smartly dressed men who claimed to have been looking at the land.
When Johnson attempted to drive away, the men pointed a firearm in his face and demanded him to get out is vehicle. They shot him twice and made off with his diesel 4×4 Toyota Landcruiser.
One of the men turned state witness and said that the plan was to sell Johnson’s vehicle in Mozambique for R120 000, which was to be split between the four men.
27 SEPTEMBER 2013
Monzi farmer’s chilling testimony
IT was the first time an emotional Graeme Johnson faced his alleged perpetrators, who detailed under oath the exact motive for the attack.
Johnson told Regional Court Magistrate Sally Loudon that he had been doing daily rounds on his farm when he stopped to assist four men in a vehicle.
‘They were well-dressed and I thought they were possibly government officials. I thought they were lost or came to do checks on the land,’ said Johnson.
The men reportedly told Johnson they were only taking photographs and as the farmer was about to leave, one of the men pointed a firearm at him and demanded he get out of his vehicle and lie on the ground.
Fearing death, Johnson immediately ran into the sugarcane field amid a hail of bullets.
Sustaining two gunshots wounds in the arm and back, he lay on the ground as the men searched for him.
‘I heard one of the men saying – ‘here’s the blood’. And when I peeped through the cane, I saw his legs and I knew this was the end. I waited for the gunshots. I knew I was going to die,’ Johnson said.
One of the men involved in the attack, who turned State witness, said the plan was to sell Johnson’s 4×4 in Mozambique for R120 000, which was to be split between them.
‘The plan was to get the car and not a life, but the other suspects insisted on going back to find him and kill him in the sugarcane. But they never found him,’ said the witness.
Later that Thursday afternoon in the procession of the trial, a second suspect pleaded guilty.
The trial continues.
FRIDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
MONZI farmer,Graeme Johnson broke down while recounting the traumatic sequence of his hijacking and attempted murder in May last year.
The father of three, who was robbed at gunpoint, shot at twice and hijacked on his property in Monzi, described the trauma caused in his life following that fateful day and the effect it had on his small children.
This was the first time an emotional Johnson faced the alleged perpetrators, who detailed under oath the exact motive for the attack.
One of the men involved in the attack, who turned State witness, said the plan was to sell Johnson’s 4×4 in Mozambique for R120 000, which was to be split between them.
The trial continues.
Update to follow
THURSDAY 26 SEPTEMBER
FARMER Graeme Johnson who was robbed at gunpoint, shot at twice and hijacked on his property in Monzi is to face the men allegedly accountable for the attack that occurred in May last year.
Three suspects stand trial in the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court today (Thursday) for attempted murder and robbery.
Four men were arrested and appeared at the Mtubatuba Magistrate Court in January.
One pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for robbery and an additional 15 years for attempted murder.
Now serving his sentence in Qalakabusha Prison, the man will testify in the trial today.
Johnson was shot twice while doing his daily rounds, checking on the farm and staff.
He noticed a car with a Gauteng registration and assuming the occupants were lost and seeking directions, Johnson pulled up to help.
According to court statements, the men told Johnson they were only taking pictures and as the farmer was about to leave one of the men pointed a firearm at him demanded he get out his vehicle and lie on the ground.
In shock and fearing death Johnson did as instructed but managed to slowly crawl away into the sugarcane fields to hide.
The men searched for him to no avail. However as they were about to leave, Johnson reappeared assuming the men had left.
The gang shot at him, wounding him twice as he made his escape.
Johnson’s vehicle was recovered the same day in Manguzi and the four suspects were arrested.
