Cape Town – Mpumalanga High Court reportedly sentenced two brothers to 37 years each for the murder of a British national Susan Deborah and the attempted murder of her husband Robert Lynn Howarth.
Reports said the brothers, along with Lucas Makau who has since died, broke into the couple’s farmhouse of Marchalands in Dullstroom in 2017.
The suspects – Meshack Nkosinathi Yika, 28, and Themba William Yika, 38 – reportedly found the couple sleeping and attacked them with a blowtorch, and shot Susan who later died from her injuries.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, the suspects then shot the husband in the neck and demanded money, reported. TimesLives.
“They continued to assault the complainant until he opened the safe and took an amount of R320, two cellphones and a camera,” the report quoted Nyuswa.
The suspects reportedly tortured the husband, burning him with the blowtorch until he gave them his bank card and PIN hoping they would abandon the torturing.
But they forced them into a van and drove away before throwing them out along the road.
The matter was reported to the police and the suspects were arrested.
According to Belfast Telegraph, the suspects were out on bail in connection with stock theft at a farm near Dullstroom when they committed the gruesome crime.
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The report said the brothers were also in possession of stolen goods when they were arrested.
During the trial, the court heard Robert’s account of what transpired on the day and how the brothers and their co-accused Makau used Robert’s bank card to make numerous purchases and withdrew money, reported IOL.
Judge Liphoto, who heard the evidence and the victim’s statements, found the brothers guilty and sentenced them to 15 years each for housebreaking and robbery, five years each for discharge of a fire firearm, 20 years for murder, and 12 years each for attempted murder.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
