Two Port Elizabeth gangsters have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of two-year-old Caydene Ruiters on Tuesday at the Port Elizabeth High Court.
Marcus Malgas and Gregory Van Staden were also sentenced to an additional 10 years for attempted murder, 15 years for illegal possession of firearms and 5 years for illegal possession of ammunition.
In effect they were sentenced to life plus 40 years in prison.
The two year old was fatally shot while she was standing in front of her house in Sagitarius Road in Helenvale on December 2015.
At the time, a man was engaged in a conversation in the street when the two accused started shooting at him.
A stray bullet struck Caydene in her chest. She died on her way to hospital.
Malgas was arrested the same afternoon while Van Staden was arrested on 14 January 2016 in Holland Park, Port Elizabeth.
Both accused remained in custody until the finalisation of the case.
Malgas is currently serving a life plus 32 years imprisonment for previous cases of murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition which he committed in October and November 2015.
Both the accused are members of the 16 Honde gang.
While passing her judgment, Van Papendorp said Caydene's parents testimony as witnesses showed that they were traumatised by the incident.
Meanwhile, the defense's application for leave to appeal the conviction was also dismissed on grounds that Van Papendorp did not see the prospect that another court would have a different outcome.
The sentence was welcomed by SAPS management.
