Two suspected gang members who opened fire on police during a brazen shooting in Helenvale were sentenced to life imprisonment plus an additional 58 years in the Gqeberha High Court on Thursday.
Darryn Wentzel and Riaan Baartman opened fire on police on 7 November 2019, after first killing a civilian at an alleged drug post in Lawler Street, in Schauderville.
They instructed the driver of a Volkswagen Polo to speed away from the scene.
Less than ten minutes later, members of the specialised anti-gang unit spotted the accused' vehicle in Kobus Road, in Helenvale.The officers instructed the men to pull over, but they sped off.
A high-speed chase ensued before the vehicle was brought to a standstill in Chamois Street, Helenvale.
This is where Wentzel and Baartman alighted from the vehicle and opened fire on police, who retaliated.
During sentencing, Judge Nyameko Gqamana said the men had shown no remorse and that they should be removed from society, permanently.
He said when deciding on a suitable sentence, the court had to consider the seriousness of the offence, and the impact the crime had on its victims and society at large.
Gqamana said the life of an innocent victim was abruptly ended in the safety of his home, and that his family members still live in fear.
The Constable who was shot cannot fend for himself and is dependent on his family and others.
He is unemployed and has to survive on the money he received from the compensation fund, which is far less than his salary, Gqamana said while informing the court of his plight.
"Society is looking to the courts to hand down sentences that deter other offenders from committing the same crime.
"The court is aware that the sentence will not bring back the deceased, nor would it give the officer his life back.
"They deserve to be removed from society, permanently."
State Prosecutor Rafick Ahmed argued that no compelling circumstances existed that would cause the court to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment on the murder charge.
