By Jason Warner
On the final day of a marathon "difficult and complex case", Cheslin Williams, the former boyfriend of Idols winner Karin Kortje, was sentenced to life in prison for the "cold-blooded" murder of guest house owner Renate Kellerman.
Magistrate JP Vermaak yesterday sentenced the stone-faced Williams in the Bellville Magistrate's Court to an additional five years for theft and eight years for attempted rape.
During the hour-long sentencing, Williams heard how his refusal to testify forced the court to rely on testimony from Alfred de Vries, a social worker who compiled a probation report.
Kellerman was found dead on July 13, 2006. Her body was in the room occupied by Williams and Kortje in the Le Petit Chateau guest house in Durbanville.
Williams had been on parole for an earlier theft conviction when he was arrested for the murder, robbery and attempted rape of Kellerman.
Vermaak said the defence highlighted several reasons why Williams should be given a lesser sentence, but Vermaak agreed with the prosecution's arguments.
The defence argued that, at 21, Williams was young at the time of the murder, but Vermaak said the State disputed that by arguing he had lived "as an adult".
De Vries had said Williams denied the attempted rape and claimed Kellerman provoked the possible sexual encounter.
Vermaak said Williams also did not subject himself to cross-examination, prohibiting the court an opportunity to verify his remorse.
The defence had said the attack on Kellerman had not been of an exceptionally gruesome nature.
Vermaak, however, said the slitting of Kellerman's throat and cuts on her chest showed "cold-blooded intent".