Cape Town — The residents in the community of Klawer want to see Daniel Smit locked up for life following the brutal murder of 13-year-old, Jerobejin van Wyk.
Earlier this week, Smit was found guilty on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, premeditated murder, violating a corpse and defeating the ends of justice, the Western Cape High Court ruled during a sitting in Vredendal, IOL reported.
Jerobejin was murdered, butchered and had some of his body parts discarded in a septic tank after he allegedly stealing mangoes in February 2022. The teenager had allegedly been chased by Smit, who knocked him over with his bakkie, before he was apprehended.
Smit admitted the killing was not premeditated but Smit was admitted for psychic evaluation to assess whether the alleged cultist was able to follow court proceedings. Smit was deemed fit to stand trial in September 2023.
Afrikaner Daniel Smit details how he killed 13-year old boy,into pieces burned to death but denies it was planned pic.twitter.com/4RlBoNiylE
— MEHMET VEFA DAG (@AFRICANDEMOC) October 26, 2024
The family had heard that Jerobejin was knocked over by a motorist and the family sought help from the police immediately. Two days later, remains believed to be that of the boy, were found in the drain at Smit’s Matzikama Street home. DNA later confirmed it to be that of Jerobejin.
According to EWN, the state heard the pleas of the Klawer residents who want to see Daniel Smit locked up for life. During a High Court sitting on Tuesday, the court argumentas in aggrevation and mitigation of sentnece were heard.
The State opposed the defence’s request that the accused be sentenced to 30 years and has argued that only life imprisonment will deliver justice for Jerobejin’s mother.
“We argued that there’s nothing special about this accused, he is just another normal murderer, who took the life of a 13-year-old boy in a very gruesome manner and we argued that there’s nothing that allows the court to deviate from this prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment,” The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)’s Eric Ntabazalila said.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@AFRICANDEMOC
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
