Three men who murdered a Soshanguve priest during a hijacking in 2001 were on Wednesday sentenced by the Pretoria High Court to life in jail.
Boetie Mashego (27), Lucky Choma (28) and Tsholofelo Seome (27) calmly looked at the large number of faithful who had gathered to hear their fate, and even smiled before they were led down the steps to the court cells.
Congregation members of their 61-year-old victim, Roman Catholic priest Father Michael D’Annucci, rejoiced after hearing that the killers of a man known for his humanity and hard work in the community will spend a long time in jail.
There was applause after prosecutor Esther Mnguni thanked them for their continuous support throughout the lengthy trial, told them that justice has been done and encouraged them to go back to their community and do good, as D’Annucci had done.
Judge Willie Seriti earlier this year convicted the three — who all denied guilt — on charges of murder, robbery and illegal firearm possession.
The priest was gunned down outside the house of a congregation member where he had conducted a prayer service. He was shot in the foot and hand when he refused to hand over his car keys.
When he tried to call for help, he was shot at point-blank range and left to bleed to death in the street while the robbers made off with his car, cellphone, Bible and other personal belongings.
Seriti said when one weighed up the accused’s personal circumstances against the seriousness of the crimes, the motive and manner in which they were committed and the accused’s lack of remorse, it was clear that there were no circumstances to justify a lesser sentence than life.
”I took into account the needs of society and the fact that people like the accused should be kept away from society in order to protect society,” the judge said.
He sentenced all three to life and a further 19 years’ imprisonment, which will run concurrently.
Father Gianni Piccolboni, who had worked closely with D’Annucci, said he was happy that the case was finally over after a ”painful process” that had dragged on for two years.
”My big problem is that the three accused didn’t show remorse and never asked for forgiveness.
”I was prepared to forgive them in the name of the church and my congregation, but I can’t give forgiveness in general if they’re not repentant. I feel sorry for society for producing such kind of young people.
”I don’t want to see them condemned. It’s very painful to end up with life imprisonment. But I hope something good will come out of it,” he said.
He thanked the prosecuting team and the large number of congregation members who had attended the trial faithfully over the past two years.
”They’re the people who loved him and miss him. We all still miss him very much,” he said. — Sapa