Johannesburg - He would look witnesses dead in the eye as they gave their testimonies. And it was those very eyes that were the distinctive feature that allowed them to identify him as their attacker.
On Wednesday, Sheperd Moyo, the Lonehill and Paulshof robber and rapist, was sentenced by the Johannesburg High Court to multiple life terms.
Moyo’s bizarre robberies would include sometimes friendly conversations with his victims in “clear” and “fluent” English.
In court, his no English claim had him lengthen procedures, with an interpreter translating into Zulu even though he spoke only Zimbabwean Ndebele.
Listening to testimonies, Moyo never flinched, his gaze never leaving the witnesses.
But his expressionless face started showing some emotion during judgment. It was only then that we learnt that he had five siblings, all but one living in South Africa. He also had an 11-year-old son. He worked as a metered taxi driver and earned R500 a week.
But it was the confusion on his face that finally made him human. And as the consequences of his actions became apparent, the confusion became worry.
After the judge left the room, he raised his voice for the first time as he spoke to his relatives, explaining the sentence he didn’t understand.
He reluctantly headed down to the cells, and once there, his body started to quiver as he cried.
The Star