The Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Liziwe Ntshinga has welcomed the life sentences meted out to two ruthless and cold blooded killers in the Port Elizabeth High Court on 20 September 2019.
On 12 December 2017 at 10:45, Thomas Hammond (59), a Rasta was walking to the nearby shop with his 4 year old daughter along Main Road in Kleinskool when he was fatally shot. According to witnesses, an unknown gunman alighted from a taxi, approached Hammond and shot him twice (in the mouth and head). The accused got back into the taxi and drove off.
A week later, investigations led Bethelsdorp detectives to a house in Missionvale where Vuyolwethu Mankonkwana (27) and Fabian Fillis (29) were arrested. Both accused, allegedly from the Guptas gang remained in custody until the finalisation of the case.
Hammond had no gang affiliation and the exact motive for the fatal shooting was not known.
Today both accused were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 5 years each for possession of unlawful firearm and 5 years for unlawful possession of ammunition. The unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition sentences will run concurrent with the life sentence.
Lt Gen Ntshinga applauded the investigating team and the prosecuting authority on handing down the maximum punishment for these criminals. ‘People who have no respect for human life, let alone innocent ones, must be removed from society and placed behind bars where they belong. I am glad that the courts don’t have any mercy on criminals such as these,’ added Lt Gen Ntshinga.
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