Eastern Cape - The Stormsriver Regional Court has sentenced two men to life imprisonment for murder and a further 15 years for aggravated robbery, Eastern Cape police said on Tuesday.
Louis Baardman and his accomplice Phillip Nel were sentenced on Monday after the pair entered Nel's employer, Ina Marincowitz's residence on 27 January 2014 where they assaulted and murdered her before dumping her body in nearby bushes.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Majola Nkohli said after stealing Marincowitz's motor vehicle, clothing and several other household items valued at around R80 000 the suspects fled the scene.
"On the same day a police patrol vehicle spotted the vehicle on the N2 and tried to pull it off the road, but it sped off and they gave chase," Nkohli said. "The vehicle lost control and overturned about 15 kilometres outside Stormsriver."
Police found that the vehicle was stolen and this led to the recovery of Marincowitz's body.
State prosecutor Johan Jansen said: "I am satisfied with the manner in which police handled the case, from those who tried to stop the vehicle, up to the investigating officer."
The Humansdorp Cluster Commander, Brigadier John Lebok said on Tuesday he is satisfied with the sentence.
"This will send out a strong message to those contemplating such horrendous deeds to refrain from them. This sentence will also build the trust of our communities in the criminal justice system," Lebok said.