Cape Town – Western Cape High Court Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe is expected to hand down sentence in the case of two men convicted of killing 44-year-old police warrant officer Steven Britz in 2014.
Former constable Luvuyo Ndevu and Mlindi Mbaliso were convicted of premeditated murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances last month.
Co-accused Anele Pantsi, Khayalethu Waka and Buhlali Phukwano were acquitted on all charges.
Ndevu had worked with Britz at the Klapmuts police station, but had been suspended about a month before the April 2014 murder.
Britz had been manning the Klapmuts police station on his own when men stormed the charged office on the night of April 16, 2014. The father of two was shot execution style, twice in the head.
The police safe was also raided and four 9mm pistols, an R5 assault rifle, a shotgun, hand radio, and ammunition were stolen. Britz’s police issue pistol was also missing.
During testimony in mitigation of sentence, both Ndevu and Mbaliso took the stand. Neither of them showed remorse, and instead asked the court for leniency.
Mbaliso said he was sorry that he had driven the car to the police station, but had no idea there was a plan to attack and kill a police officer.
Ndevu denied being at the scene of the crime, and said while he was sorry a colleague had died, he had nothing to do with it.
He asked the court to give him a suspended sentence.
But State prosecutor Kriban Pillay called for life sentences, describing the crime as “violent, brazen and senseless”.
African News Agency