Cape Town - Capetonian Quinton Cordom was handed in effect two life terms on Monday for shooting dead a traffic officer and a rival gang member, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.
Provincial NPA spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said 27-year-old Cordom was sentenced on 10 counts by the Western Cape High Court.
He was handed two life terms to run separately for the murders, six years for gang offences and 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
He received five years each for three counts of having an unlicensed firearm and a year each for three counts of possessing ammunition without a licence.
Traffic officer Wesley Woodman, 35, and motorist Said Ariefdien were shot dead on Prince George Drive, in the Lavender Hill area, in April last year.
Ntabazalila said Cordom was a member of the Luciano Boys gang and heard Ariefdien, a prominent member of rival group Junky Funky Kids, had been pulled over by Woodman.
“He rushed to the scene with a firearm with the intention to kill the ‘enemy’,” he said.
“Cordom decided to shoot Woodman so that he did not shoot him when he shoots his enemy. He then shot his enemy, Said Ariefdien.”
He apparently decided to take the officer's pistol because he had previously lost a firearm to the police.
Ntabazalila said that according to the rules of the gang, Cordom was expected to replace a firearm if he lost one.
“As the NPA we welcome the harsh sentences that were handed down to Cordom. We argued strongly for life sentences for the two murders and for lengthy sentences for the other charges,” he said.
“The nature of the crime, the brazenness, the callousness and the brutality of the Cordom’s conduct show that he attached no value to other people’s lives or physical integrity or to their dignity.”
Sapa