Lowvelder.co.za
A 41-year-old man who went on a killing spree in 2018 has been sentenced to three life terms and an additional 50 years in prison for robbing and killing three defenceless elderly women.
Shaun Oosthuizen committed his first murder on the 24th of June 2018 when he killed 86-year-old Engela van Wyk at the "Rus 'n Bietjie" old age home in Springs.
Police Spokesperson Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi says he was only positively linked to Van Wyk's murder when he was already in custody for killing two other women.
Two weeks after Van Wyk's murder, even before Oosthuizen was on the police radar, he travelled from Gauteng to the Macadamia old age home in Mbombela where he robbed and killed 85-year-old Henriette Potgieter.
He was initially arrested and charged with two other people but charges against them were withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.
Captain Sekgotodi says Oosthuizen was eventually granted bail after filing several applications.
Once out on bail, however, he travelled to Alberton where he strangled 74-year-old Barbara Fenton to death before stealing her belongings.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) finalised their first two cases against Oosthuizen in 2019 for which he received two life sentences for killing van Wyk and Fenton as well as an additional 15 years for each robbery with aggravating circumstances.
On Wednesday, Oosthuizen received his final life sentence and an additional 20 years in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court for the murder and robbery of Henriette Potgieter.
The Provincial Head for the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Zodwa Mokoena, applauded the investigating team and said criminals who torment the elderly should be removed from society.
