Life sentences for Heila Kilian's four murderers

Update

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The four men found guilty of the murder of Heila Kilian (63) were sentenced in the George Circuit High Court on Friday, 22 April.

The fifth accused, Xolusani Myoyi, was found not guilty last year December and acquitted of all charges against him.

Judge Lister Nuku handed down life sentences to the other four - Sakhumzi Benya, Nkoshihethu Nocuza, Msomi Nikani and Monwabisi Maki. In addition, they also received 54 years for various other charges. These sentences will run concurrently. The four will be eligible for parole in 25 years.

The breakdown in years of the sentencing on the other charges are as follows: three charges of robbery with aggravated circumstances (15 years each, 45 in total); illegal possession of a firearm (six years); and one charge of illegal possession of ammunition (three years).

They were all previously acquitted on the charge of malicious damage to property. All the accused denied having anything to do with Kilian's murder.

The investigating officer, Jerome Kleinbooi, was pleasantly surprised by the life sentences. "I did not expect it. I am really satisfied," he said.

The murder

Heila Kilian was shot through the heart and died on 16 April 2018 on the farm Gazania near Stilbaai. The incident happened at about 22:00 that evening, when she was enjoying a braai with her sister Brenda and brother-in-law David Thomas during a visit to the Thomas family's farm.

According to Southern Cape police spokesperson Sgt Chris Spies, they were accosted by five armed suspects, dressed in orange overalls and their faces covered with balaclavas.

"One of the suspects randomly shot at the victims when the deceased, Heila Killian, who later succumbed to her injuries, was hit," he said.

"The assailants overpowered the other two victims (men) and handcuffed them. They ransacked the house and forced open a safe, where they took an undisclosed amount of cash, a collection of firearms including a shotgun, two rifles and a handgun as well as a collection of hunting knives before they fled with the owner's white Toyota Hilux bakkie."

One of the victims (the second woman) managed to escape and alerted the police.

Spies said police recovered the vehicle during an operation in the Cape Metropole later the same year, which led to the arrest of one suspect. "Intensive investigation by investigators attached to the Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit led to the arrest of four more suspects during February 2019."

Adv Ntsoaki Mabilietse represented the state. Benya and Nocuza were represented by Adv Stoffel Prinsloo. Att Kenneth Roberts represented Nikani, and Maki was represented by Adv Badie Badenhorst.

Investigating officer Jerome Kleinbooi said he was pleasantly surprised by the life sentences. Photo: Michelle Pienaar