Nel will rot in jail for eternity

[nairiporter]

Rot in jail! - Skierlik shooter is sentenced
http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=889736

Skierlik shooter Johan Nel will spend the rest of his life behind bars.


Nel killed Enoch Tshepo Motshelanoka, 10, Anna Moiphitlhi, 31, her 3-month-old baby Kegitlho Elizabeth Moiphitlhi and Sivuyile Banani, 35, in a racially motivated shooting spree in the Skierlik informal settlement, near Swartruggens, on January 14.

Another eight people were wounded in the attack, and three were shot at.

Nel received four life sentences for the murders. He was sentenced to an additional 68 years for the attempted murders — seven years on each of eight of the charges and four years on each of the remaining three counts. He also received five years for possession of a firearm and three years for possession of ammunition.

North West police spokesman Superintendent Lesego Metsi said Judge Ronald Hendricks did not indicate whether the charges would run concurrently.

Police protection for the Judge and Prosecutor - Death threats received

Meanwhile, Metsi said that Judge Hendricks and an advocate of the state were under police protection after each receiving 50 death threats on their cellphones when the court adjourned on Wednesday.

A case of intimidation has been opened.

He must rot in jail

The Young Communist League has welcomed the sentencing of Nel. “This sends a strong message that perpetrators of heinous and racist murdes will be brought to book and rot in jail,” the league said in a statement.



Nel, who sat stone-faced and never flinched at camera flash lights since the start of the trial, pleaded guilty on Monday.

He was 18 years old in January, when he drove his father’s bakkie into the nearby Skierlik informal settlement in Swartruggens, North West, and opened fire on residents.

Nel has given no reason for his actions.

Dysfunctional background

Criminologist Dr Irma Labuschagne compiled a psychological profile of Nel, which was presented to court.

She painted a picture of a young man who had great difficulty in socialising. She said this was made worse by his parents’ decision to educate him at home from Grade 4.

“Not only was Johan deprived of the most important aspects present in a normal schooling atmosphere, but he had very little interaction with his peers. It is tragic that this deprivation was carried over into his work life … he was never in a working environment where he could mingle with co-employees,” Labuschagne said.

It was clear from the answers Nel gave to written questions set by Labuschagne that he did not have a good relationship with his parents.

The criminologist said the family was “dysfunctional”.

“I don’t want to be like my parents because, in the first place, I don’t like them a lot,” Nel wrote. “In the second place, they are mediocre and I don’t want to be remembered as being average. I will do everything in my power not to be like my parents.”


A Personality Altered By Crime

Dr Labuschagne indicated that crime had an impact on the way Nel felt about the world. Here are some of the crime-related incidents affecting people in his life:
- An uncle and friend, Boet Rocher, were assaulted and shot dead on January 14 1995.
- Kleinhendrik Know, a cousin of Nel’s father, Hennie, was brutally murdered on his farm on December 24 1999.
- Nel’s grandfather died in August 2000 after a long illness. Nel was named after his grandfather and is said to have been very close to him.
- Nel’s cousin, Jannie du Plessis, was shot dead in his driveway in April 2001.
- Nel’s older brother, Heinrich, was attacked by robbers at home in May 2001, while the rest of the family was at church.
- Nel’s friend, Kobus Potgieter, was shot dead while delivering vegetables.

Some of what Nel Had to Say to Labuschagne

On his family life: “Our family was always warm, friendly and safe until seven blacks tried to murder us.”

On his relationship with his family: “We differed on a number of things, also argued, because I could not talk to them and felt I couldn’t discuss things with them.”

On his favourite pastime: “It was only me in school and there was no sports or other activities. I just hunted and shot, or read about hunting and shooting.”