Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, lauded investigators for excellent work done which culminated more than two life sentences meted against two accused for their involvement in serious and violent crimes in the Province.
Both were sentenced on unrelated cases in the High Court at Beaufort West during the past week.
Extensive and intricate investigation, by Sergeant Ashley Louw attached to the Beaufort West Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS), revealed that on 11 November 2022, medical personnel at the Beaufort Provincial Hospital alerted police about a two-year-old toddler, Geonavon Ketan-Lemar Maans (2), who was admitted.
The victim had multiple blunt injuries to the head, trunk and limbs upon admission at the medical facility.
Further investigation took detectives to a house at Claressa Links Avenue, Beaufort West where the boy resided with his father.
It was later discovered that the victim was brutally assaulted and sexually violated by his father at the residence.
The man, Jean Solomons (28), was arrested in connection with the toddler’s death.
Furthermore, the probe into the death of James Jantjies (28) during a shooting at Atlantis in the West Coast on 01 November 2016 also positively linked Solomons to this killing. He was linked through forensic evidence as well as close circuit television footage obtained during the lengthy investigation.
The accused was also convicted on this gang related murder.
His violent spree between 2016 and 2020 included other incidents of assault common and assault with the intent to commit grievous bodily harm perpetrated in Beaufort West.
He was subsequently convicted and sentenced on Friday, 28 April 2023 on the following counts:
1. Count One: Murder – Life imprisonment
2. Count Three: Possession of a firearm – 4 years’ imprisonment
3. Count Four: Possession of ammunition – 4 years’ Imprisonment
4. Count Five: Assault common – 6 months imprisonment
5. Count Six: Assault (GBH) – 12 months imprisonment
6. Count Seven: Assault (GBH) – 12 months imprisonment
7. Count Twelve: Assault Common – 24 months imprisonment
8. Count Thirteen: Rape – Life imprisonment
9. Count Fourteen: Murder – 20 years’ imprisonment
10. Count Fifteen: Attempting to defeat or obstruct administration of justice – 12 months imprisonment
The accused was acquitted on other charges not mentioned.
In addition to this, in an unrelated matter, Raymond Kelly (34) was sentenced to 34 years imprisonment on Tuesday, 25 April 2023. He was arrested after an extensive investigation into two unrelated murders perpetrated in Beaufort West during 2015.
Beaufort West Detectives probed the murders of Brendon de Wee (19) on a farm during July 2015, where the victim sustained 36 stab wounds, as well as Griet Plaatjies (44) who succumbed to nine stab wounds sustained during an attack at her residence.
He was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for the murder of De Wee and 20 years for the attack and ultimate killing of the Plaatjies.
Lt Gen Patekile thanked the detection and prosecuting teams for their diligence in securing lengthy incarcerations for both offenders. He said: “the protection of the most vulnerable in society especially women and children is one of the key priorities for the police. The successful conclusion of these matters is testament of the police’s commitment to eradicate serious and violent crimes which plaques various communities”, Lt Gen Patekile concluded.
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