Johannesburg - Robin Harwood, found guilty of the murder of Kirsty Theologo, lived almost in a fantasy world, the High Court in Johannesburg sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court heard on Tuesday.
“He was immature, almost lived in an unreal, fantasy world,” his lawyer Gail Sidwell said during arguments in mitigation of his sentencing.
She said Harwood and his friends took drugs and alcohol, and that drugs made him aggressive.
Cousins Lindon Wagner and Harwood are to be sentenced for their part in Theologo's murder, as well as attempted murder, and assault.
Sidwell said Harwood was not an assertive person and was always likely to go along with others.
“The ideas they had were not normal. They had no normal judgement or restraint that night. Robin did say he was high that night after taking alcohol and drugs,” Sidwell said.
Something might have taken control of her client at the time.
“His rationale at the time was that it was God's will.”
Harwood was young, had no previous convictions and could be rehabilitated, she said.
Theologo and her friend, who was 14 at the time, 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.
Initially six people were charged for Theologo's killing and the attempted murder of her friend.
Harvey Isha was acquitted of all 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, confessed to the killing and were sentenced to 17 years behind bars, five of which were suspended. - Sapa