A man from Northpine has been sentenced to two life terms and an additional 15 years behind bars for his involvement in a harrowing home invasion that claimed the life of a 75-year-old man and left his wife seriously injured.
Reagan Davids, now a convicted murderer, was found guilty earlier this year on five serious charges, including murder and attempted murder, following a shocking incident that unfolded on the morning of 31 January 2020.
According to court findings, Davids was part of a calculated murder plot orchestrated by Brent Williams, the estranged husband of the intended target, Ibtisaam Williams. The plan unfolded in the early hours while the family was observing Fajr prayers, an Islamic dawn ritual, in their Northpine home.
Davids, along with an unidentified accomplice, entered the residence through an open door left intentionally ajar. The men bypassed the main house and headed straight to the backyard flat, where Brent’s former in-laws, Hashim and Kulsoem Dennis, were praying. Tragically, Hashim (75) was fatally stabbed in the attack, while Kulsoem (70) sustained severe injuries.
The victim’s daughter, Ibtisaam, was delayed that morning and had not yet joined the prayers. Upon hearing the commotion, she managed to lock the interior doors, likely preventing further harm. The attackers then escaped by climbing over the garage roof, where they were picked up by Brent, waiting nearby in the getaway car.
Brent Williams, the man who allegedly coordinated the hit and facilitated the escape, died in custody earlier this year from a heart attack before he could stand trial.
In delivering the sentence, the Western Cape High Court emphasised the premeditated and brutal nature of the crime. Davids received life sentences for the murder of Hashim Dennis and the attempted murder of Kulsoem Dennis, as reported by Smile FM. He was also handed 15 years for housebreaking with intent to murder, 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, and 10 years for an additional count of attempted murder. The court ruled that the non-life sentences would run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of two life terms plus 15 years.
The identity of the second attacker remains unknown, and no arrests have been made in that regard.
The family of the victims expressed relief at the conclusion of the case, offering gratitude to the investigation team, Detective Captain C. Louw and Detective Sergeant T. Rapiya, for their tireless work in bringing Davids to justice.
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Picture: Roger Sedres / Gallo Images
