The family of slain Johannesburg university student Leigh Matthews expressed satisfaction with the life sentence handed down to her killer, Donovan Moodley, on Thursday.
"We support the sentencing passed. We are satisfied with it," Matthews' father, Rob, said after Moodley's trial drew to a close in the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday.
Justice Joop Labuschagne sentenced 25-year-old Moodley to life in prison for the murder, with another 15 years for kidnapping to run concurrently with 10 years for the extortion of a R50 000 ransom from the Matthews family.
Rob Matthews said the ransom money, when returned, would be donated to the Leigh Matthews fund, set up to help the police's serious and violent crimes units.
Continues Below ↓
| 'I don't think I've ever been hugged so much' |
About R200 000 had been donated to the fund so far by the public and private companies.
Thanking the prosecution team, the police, and the media for the role they had played in the investigation and trial, Matthews said: "I don't think I've ever been hugged so much."
The number of people who had stood by the family was "overwhelming", he said
He also thanked minibus drivers who, during the search for his daughter, drove around with posters of her in their windows and drove around town.
In time, his family and that of Moodley would meet, said Matthews.
"There will come a time when we would like to get together."
His wife Sharon, however, said she would not forgive their son "in a million years".
Her husband said the family had "found closure" despite the "item outstanding" - referring to questions about the possible involvement of an accomplice.
Encouraging the media to be as zealous with other serious, violent cases that often "slip by unnoticed", Matthews asked that his family now be allowed to bow out of the public eye. - Sapa
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
