Suspended term angers dead teen’s family
R-160122- Cape Town. The Woottons are seen here standing outside the Strand Magistrates Court with family and friends, after Schalk Lubbe was handed down a five year suspended sentence, 9 months correctional supervision and having his drivers licence suspended for a culpable homicide conviction. Lubbe(25y) was responsible for a motor collision nearly three years ago, which claimed the life of former head prefect, Jake Wootton,from Milnerton High School in Cape Town. In the front row from left: Sue Wootton(mother), Leigh Wootton(sister) and Steve Wootton(father). Reporter: Jan Cronje. Pic. Jason Boud R-160122- Cape Town. The Woottons are seen here standing outside the Strand Magistrates Court with family and friends, after Schalk Lubbe was handed down a five year suspended sentence, 9 months correctional supervision and having his drivers licence suspended for a culpable homicide conviction. Lubbe(25y) was responsible for a motor collision nearly three years ago, which claimed the life of former head prefect, Jake Wootton,from Milnerton High School in Cape Town. In the front row from left: Sue Wootton(mother), Leigh Wootton(sister) and Steve Wootton(father). Reporter: Jan Cronje. Pic. Jason Boud
Cape Town - The family of Jake Wootton, the teenager who was killed after being hit by a car in 2012 in Hermanus, say they are “very disappointed” with the suspended sentence handed down to the man responsible for his death.
Schalk Lubbe was sentenced in the Strand Regional Court on Friday to a five-year suspended sentence and nine months’ house arrest.
His driving licence has been suspended for six months and he has been banned from using alcohol.
Lubbe, 28, was found guilty of culpable homicide.
He was, however, acquitted on a charge of drunk driving as his blood alcohol level was not tested in time.
Lubbe knocked over and killed 18-year-old Wootton in Dirkie Uys Street in Hermanus four years ago.
Wootton, a Milnerton High School pupil, and seven friends were walking to the house of a friend when Wootton was hit by the car.
Yesterday Lubbe, wearing a light brown jacket, a white shirt and a checked grey tie, left the court without comment after handing over his driving licence to officials.
After the sentence was handed down, Wootton’s father Stephen said it was a “slap on the wrist”.”
“I just don’t think it is long enough for what we have gone through,” he said with tears in his eyes, surrounded by family members including Wootton’s mother, Sue, and sister Leigh.
“I have always said that he (Lubbe) should have got a custodial sentence.”
Regional Magistrate Franceline Mouton said when deciding the sentence, she had taken into account the fact there was no evidence Lubbe had been been drinking or speeding when he hit Wootton.
She said Lubbe had expressed remorse and was a first-time offender.
But she said the offence he had been convicted of was a grave one and he had shown a “flagrant disregard for the safety of pedestrians”.
“A person has lost his life due to your negligence,” she said.
She said while it was not proven he had been speeding, he had not been driving at “a safe speed”.
The outcome would have been different if the State could have proven he had been drinking.
“If there was evidence of drunk driving, the option of imprisonment would have been seriously considered.”
She warned Lubbe if he broke the rules of his house arrest, she would have “no hesitation” in sending him to jail.
jan.cronje@inl.co.za
Weekend Argus
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