The High Court sentenced a 25 year-old father for murder of his own son on Tuesday, 22 March 2022. Gift Hendrick Stander was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his 3-year-old child.
On Friday, 15 October 2021, the accused arrived at his ex-girlfriend’s home to fetch their child for a visit. This is after the mother of his son made it clear to him that she was not interested in the relationship anymore.
Gift left with the child and went to his home in Bloemside Phase 4 near Bloemfontein. He failed to bring the child back until Sunday, 17 October 2021, when the mother got worried and asked family members to accompany her to Gift’s home to fetch the child.
The 20-year-old mother made the painful discovery that the father of his child had strangled their child to death, wrapped him in plastic and hid his lifeless body under the bed.
The police at Bloemspruit were called to the scene, the case docket for murder was opened and the accused was arrested. Warrant Officer Moeketsi Solomon Mokgobo received the docket and even though there were no witnesses, managed to get confession made in court by the accused.
Gift Hendrick Stander was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
