Johannesburg - Lindon Wagner and Robin Harwood, found guilty of killing Kirsty Theologo, are only feeling sorry for themselves and not their victims, a Johannesburg court heard on Tuesday.
“They feel sorry for themselves having to face prison, not for what happened to their victims. That is not true remorse,” prosecutor Carina Coetzee told the High Court in Johannesburg sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court.
Coetzee was responding to arguments in mitigation of sentence presented earlier by the defence. Wagner and Harwood, who are cousins, were found guilty for their part in Theologo's murder.
Theologo and her friend, who was 14 at the time and may not be named, were assaulted, doused with petrol and set alight in a Satanic “soul-selling” ritual on a hill in Linmeyer, Johannesburg, in October 2011.
Theologo died in hospital of her injuries a week later. Her friend survived the attack.
Coetzee said the teenager who survived found it difficult to form relationships and had a fear of petrol.
“She has a fear of petrol, which is very much part of our daily lives as we cannot drive anywhere without petrol. She finds it difficult to go to a petrol station,” she said.
Wagner and Harwood had a better childhood compared to the two girls.
“The girls also come from broken families, with Kirsty's friend having to go for long periods without her mother... Kirsty played a supporting role to her friend.”
Coetzee said the teenager had to stay in a rehabilitation clinic for a long time to learn how to function again. She suffered deep physical and emotional scars, she said.
“Mrs Theologo has fallen apart as a result of this, and she blames herself for the incident. Her late daughter's friend has to live forever with the scars.”
The acts by all the accused was clear violence against women and children.
“Parliament has re-iterated that violence against females should stop, and that the courts should take a lead in sending out a strong message that violence will not be tolerated,” said Coetzee.
Initially six people were charged for Theologo's killing and the attempted murder of her friend.
Harvey Isha was acquitted of all the charges in November.
Courtney Daniels, 18, was convicted of common assault for lacing the victims' drinks with brake fluid prior to the attack. She was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for five years.
Two other men, Lester Moody and Jeremy King, earlier confessed to the killing and were sentenced to 17 years behind bars, five of which were suspended.
Sapa