Professional blaster Deric Barrett convicted last year of culpable homicide for a deadly explosion at his Villieria home in 2000, was previously found guilty of a related crime, the Pretoria Regional Court heard on Wednesday.
He was convicted of storing or possessing illegal explosive material in 1979, prosecutor Arno Rossouw told the court. Barrett also had two previous convictions for assault, one for theft, and another for malicious damage to property.
His wife Louisa, neighbour Hans Werner, and gardener George Makhubela were killed, eight people were injured and 17 left homeless when commercial explosive went off in Barrett’s garage on October 10, 2000.
Three houses were destroyed and six others were damaged. On October 17 last year Barrett was found guilty of culpable homicide, storing explosives on unlicensed premises and not safely storing a firearm.
He was acquitted of murder and malicious damage to property. Defence witnesses described Barrett on Wednesday as religious and a responsible man who treated his wife with respect.
Fellow churchgoer Brain Brink testified that Barrett went into a depression after the explosion and regretted what had happened. He had also tried to commit suicide.
Forensic criminologist Dr Irma Labuschagne said the event weighed heavily on Barrett. He cried several times during the consultation.
Brink and Labuschagne were testifying prior to Barrett’s sentencing. – Sapa