State wants life in prison for Emaan’s killers
|Published
The State intends to ask the Western Cape High Court to sentence child murderers, Eben Basson and Chivargo Fredericks, to an effective life imprisonment after their conviction for the murder of 7-year-old Emaan Solomons.
The two Junky Funky Kids (JFK) members were also convicted on four counts of attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Senior State Adv John Ryneveld will also ask the court to impose long-term direct imprisonment for the four attempted murder counts and the counts of illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
Ryneveld led evidence that on the afternoon of February 25, 2020, Emaan and her friends engaged in their ritual after school ball game in a cul de sac in Libra Road, Ocean View, near to her home. A few adults were sitting in a vehicle enjoying the afternoon when the gunshots rang. Emaan, her friends and the adults ran in different directions seeking safety as bullets whizzed past them.
She made it into her home’s yard but collapsed in the front garden, a few metres from the front door. Her mother found her lying with a bullet wound that went in her back and through her chest. She also had a wound in her left hand. Emaan was rushed to a local hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
“The two gang members were positively identified as the ones who were chasing and shooting at a rival gang member, of the Taylor Gang (TG) on that afternoon. The JFKs and the TGs operate in the Oceanview area and constantly engage in turf wars over the drug trade,” Ntabazalila said.
Fredericks was arrested that same evening while Basson was arrested the next morning. The rival gang member was also arrested but later released as he could not be linked to the case.
To prove the State’s case, Ryneveld called nine witnesses including the men who were sitting in the vehicle, Section 204 witnesses, the investigating officers, and others.
Basson called three witnesses who were not present during the shooting. He and Fredericks testified in their defence cases and denied involvement in the shooting and being present in the area.
Judge Gayaat Da Silva Salie convicted the accused for the murder of Solomons, and attempted murders of four others, illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition. She declared them unfit to possess a firearm.
“The NPA welcomes the decision of the court following Adv Ryneveld’s robust arguments accompanied by irrefutable ballistic evidence. The NPA believes this is the first step towards ensuring justice for the family of the deceased and other victims who escaped death on the day,” Ntabazalila said.
The case was postponed until April 14 for sentencing proceedings.
Cape Times