Cape Town -
Two of the men involved in the murders of fashion designer Richard Bloom and budding actor Brett Goldin are to be released on parole.
Convicts Jade Wyngaard and Nurshad Davids were initially sentenced to 15 years each for robbery, kidnapping and possession of an unlicensed firearm, but three years were taken off because they agreed to testify for the State at the trial – which never happened because their co-accused submitted plea bargains.
Bloom and Goldin’s bodies were found next to the Klipfontein off-ramp of the M5 highway in April 2006.
The pair were given 12-year sentences, which they have served at Drakenstein prison, and have launched three unsuccessful attempts to be granted parole.
On Wednesday they were advised they will be “conditionally released” on June 26, but under house arrest.
The victims’ families were represented by professor of criminology and forensic studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Robert Peacock.
He told the Cape Argus on Wednesday: “They will have served more than two- thirds of their sentences. I presented the Parole Board with information around the victims’ concerns for their safety and the safety of society in general.
“I was very pleased to see the applicants will be under house arrest, and will also have to complete community service, as well as participate in ongoing rehabilitation, such as family reconstruction through therapeutic intervention.”
He was satisfied the Parole Board had “applied its mind thoroughly”.
Goldin’s mother, Denise, said: “It’s a harsh reality to face. We knew that the time would come when they would be released. We just hope that it’s the right decision and they will be correctly integrated, and not return to drugs and crime.”
The murdered men’s killers, Shavaan Marlie and Clinton Davids, remain behind bars serving 28 years each.
Cape Argus