THE State is demanding no less than life imprisonment for convicted killer Christo Oncke, who murdered a man for being gay.
Oncke was found guilty of torturing and killing David Olyne at a dam in Ceres in 2014.
Sentencing began in the Circuit High Court in Ceres on Tuesday, where Oncke tried to hide his face from flashing cameras in a packed courtroom.
Judge Siraj Desai previously postponed the sentencing to allow time for a psychological assessment of Oncke.
State prosecutor Ntsoaki Mabilietse said Oncke needed to be made an example of.
“The community deserves to be protected. It has become far too common for these types of crimes to be committed against the LGTBI community and remain unpunished,” Mabilietse said.
In March 2014, Oncke had invited three teens drinking at a dam to watch him “kill a moffie”, and Olyne’s charred body was found the next day with his hands and feet tied with metal wire.
Oncke had testified that on that day he and a friend were walking when Olyne asked them for a cigarette.
Oncke said the three walked together and when Oncke’s friend left them, Oncke said Olyne had made a sexual pass at him.
The two then had an altercation and Oncke admitted he punched Olyne five times and kicked him in the shoulder when he fell.
He denied killing Olyne, but the court found him guilty.
Yesterday, both his mother, Claire Oncke, and Olyne’s mother, Maria Olyne, were in court.
There was also support from residents and the Boland town's LGTBI community.
Clinical psychologist Jillian Butterworth said: “Mr Oncke appeared to be honest in the assessment and stated his case with conviction… as of a low intelligence but not intellectually disabled.
"Instead, his thinking appeared disordered and his speech was also representative of disordered thinking.”
She said Oncke had shown remorse, was in a 10-year relationship and had a three-year-old daughter.
Advocate Ntsoaki Mabilietse challenged the fact that Oncke had children, and said Oncke stated in court papers he was single and had no children.
Oncke’s legal representative, advocate Gerrit Badenhorst, called on his mother, who confirmed he had no girlfriend or child.
Badenhorst further stated this formed part of his client's mental state.
“The court must take into consideration these facts as indicated by the psychologist and my client has committed no other violent crimes.
"Also on the question of the murder, while he admits to the assault, we must consider one person could not have committed these acts alone,” said Badenhorst.
Sentencing is expected to continue today.