The youngest of the five baby Jordan-Leigh Norton killers was ”more interested in immediate pleasures than his future”, the Cape High Court heard on Tuesday.
Probation officer Joel Ntuli told the court Bonginkosi Sigenu (18) came from a poor background and his late father had declined to buy him fancy clothing.
Sigenu admired drug dealers for their wealth, and saw them as role models.
Sigenu was one of the four men hired by Dina Rodrigues to murder the baby — her motive being to spare the infant’s father, Neil Wilson, the burden of maintenance payments.
Rodrigues had hoped to marry Wilson after he had ended his relationship with the baby’s mother, Natasha.
Sigenu is in the dock with Rodrigues and the other three hired to murder the baby — taxi operator and shebeen owner Sipho Mfazwe, Mongezi Bobotyane and Zanethemba Gwada.
They appeared before Judge Basheer Waglay and two assessors who, probably this week, are to sentence Sigenu and the other three men for premeditated murder as well as aggravated robbery.
Rodrigues is to be sentenced for premeditated murder only.
Ntuli was called to the witness stand by Sigenu’s defence counsel, Caryl Verrier, to recommend correctional supervision as an appropriate sentence for Sigenu.
Ntuli said the murder had caused a lot of anger in the community, but Sigenu was remorseful and this had to be taken into account.
Prosecutor Maria Marshall confronted Ntuli about his claim that Sigenu had been influenced by his older co-accused to get involved in the murder.
She informed Ntuli that Sigenu, in his testimony, had denied any influence by the others.
Ntuli replied that at his age, he had not been ready to make an informed decision.
Correctional supervision officer Luvuyo Mtayildli, also called by Verrier, told the court Sigenu feared for his life for telling the truth about the murder.
He said: ”Sigenu told me he has a lot to offer the country, if he is given a chance.
”He has taken full responsibility for what he has done.”
The hearing continues on Wednesday. — Sapa