Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile saluted investigators for their work, which culminated in more than two life sentences served against two accused for their involvement in serious and violent crimes in the province.
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Both were sentenced on unrelated cases in the High Court at Beaufort West during the past week.
In November last year, police were alerted about two-year-old Geonavon Ketan-Lemar Maans, who had been admitted at the Beaufort Provincial Hospital.
The victim presented with multiple blunt injuries to the head, trunk and limbs. Further investigations revealed the victim was brutally assaulted and sexually violated by his father, 28-year-old Jean Solomons, with whom the child resided.
Solomons was arrested in connection with the toddler’s death.
Solomons was also convicted of a gang-related murder after a probe into the death of 28-year-old James Jantjies during a shooting at Atlants in November 2016 positively linked him.
Further incidents of common assault and assault with the intent to commit grievous bodily harm between 2016 and 2020 led to a number of additional convictions, according to police spokesperson Sergeant Christoper Spies.
While acquitted on other charges, he was sentenced on Friday, 28 April 2023, on the following counts:
- Count One: Murder – Life imprisonment
- Count Three: Possession of a firearm – 4 years imprisonment
- Count Four: Possession of ammunition – 4 years imprisonment
- Count Five: Assault common – 6 months imprisonment
- Count Six: Assault (GBH) – 12 months imprisonment
- Count Seven: Assault (GBH) – 12 months imprisonment
- Count Twelve: Assault Common – 24 months imprisonment
- Count Thirteen: Rape – Life imprisonment
- Count Fourteen: Murder – 20 years imprisonment
- Count Fifteen: Attempting to defeat or obstruct administration of justice – 12 months imprisonment
Additionally, in an unrelated matter, 34-year-old Raymond Kelly was sentenced to 34 years of imprisonment on Tuesday, 25 April.
Kelly was arrested after extensive investigations linked him to two unrelated murders perpetrated in Beaufort West during 2015.
Detectives probed the murders of 19-year-old Brendon De Wee, who sustained 36 stab wounds on a farm in July 2015, as well as 44-year-old Griet Plaatjies, who succumbed to 9 stab wounds during an attack at her residence.
Kelly was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment for the murder of De Wee and 20 years for the attack and murder of the Plaatjies.
Patekile thanked the detection and prosecuting teams for their diligence in securing lengthy incarcerations for both offenders. ‘The protection of the most vulnerable in society, especially women and children, is one of the key priorities for the police,’ said Patekile.
‘The successful conclusion of these matters is testament of the police’s commitment to eradicate serious and violent crimes which plaques various communities.’
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