Harsh sentences were handed down in the Gqeberha High Court on Monday, to three men who executed a daring robbery and then opened fire on two seasoned Hawks detectives.
Mzamo Mzombe, Vuyo Mayekiso, and Nasiphi Khoza were convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, and murder.
Khoza was also convicted of the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The robbery occurred at a business premises in Commercial Road on 6 August 2021.
Mzombe and Khoza were handed a life sentence for murder, while Mayekiso was given a lesser sentence of 15 years for his role as the getaway driver.
The trio were also given sentences of eight years and ten years respectively for the attempted murder of Warrant Officer Shane Bosch.
Khoza was slapped with an additional 20 years for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
On the day of the robbery, Bosch and Warrant Officer Walter Wait were in the vicinity when they heard a gunshot being fired.
The detectives decided to investigate and quickly ascertained that the men had left the crime scene in a Datsun Go vehicle.
They followed the \vehicle until the Datsun stopped at a red traffic light at the corner of Sueltz Street and Kempston Road.
Bosch, who was in the passenger side, got out of the vehicle and went around to the driver's side, where he informed the occupants that he was a police officer.
He then removed the Datsun's keys from the ignition.
At this point, shots were fired at Bosch from the back of the vehicle. He fell to the ground and was not hit, as the bullet merged into the pillar between the front door and back door of the car.
Wait, who was in the process of approaching the car from the left-hand side drew his firearm and fired at the occupants in the vehicle.
One occupant was fatally shot and another was wounded in the process.
In handing down the sentence, Acting Judge Hannelie Bakker said the growing awareness of the criminal justice process and the effects of crime on the victims are increasingly considered an aggravating factor by the courts.
"The after-effects of the crime were clearly noticeable during the evidence of Warrant Officer Wait, a seasoned law enforcement officer, who was still in emotional distress three years after the crime had taken place when he had to recall shooting at the back passengers in order to protect the life of Warrant Officer Bosch."
Bakker further said that the interests of society should be understood as serving the interests of society and not simply as revisiting the crime component.
She said as often stated in case law, courts have an obligation to impose the kind of sentences which reflect the natural outrage and revulsion felt by law-abiding members of society.
"Failure to do so would regrettably have the effect of eroding the public's confidence in the criminal justice system," Bakker added.
