Update
MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A 26-year-old Oudtshoorn man was recently sentenced to an effective four years behind bars for culpable homicide, following a 2022 incident in which a 42-year-old Asla Park resident, Leoni Heunis, died from a stab wound to the neck.
Henrico Cupido pleaded guilty to the theft of a motor vehicle and culpable homicide on 1 July this year.
On 25 August, the Mossel Bay Regional Court sentenced him to five years' imprisonment for the theft and seven years for the culpable homicide, three of which are suspended for the next five years.
Cupido, who is currently serving 10 years' imprisonment for aggravated robbery in 2022, and has already served one year for assault in 2019, stole a vehicle in Oudtshoorn on 4 February 2022 and drove through to Mossel Bay.
In the early hours of the next morning, the police came across Heunis' body on the roadside near the graveyard in Heiderand while they were conducting patrols along Louis Fourie Road. Cupido was arrested soon after.
Although he was initially arrested and charged with murder, a plea bargain was made with the State and Cupido pleaded guilty to the two charges as stated above.
The court heard during the sentencing that the events leading up to Heunis' death were unclear, but that Cupido had meant to scare and intimidate her, not kill her.
The regional court prosecutor, Craig Merrington, told the court during the sentencing that the 26-year-old had already been convicted of other serious offences, and that the prison sentences he was handed were not a deterrent.
Merrington said Cupido's criminal history has only shown an escalation in the offences committed and that there was no chance of his rehabilitation.
"The deceased paid the ultimate price, with her life, because the accused wanted to scare and intimidate her. She received a fatal stab wound to the neck and instead of doing what was right and normal, which would have been to get help, he ran away," said Merrington.
The magistrate presiding over the case, Jerome Koeries, said murder is the intention to kill, while culpable homicide has an element of negligence.
"Culpable homicide is treated differently to murder, but that does not detract from the seriousness of the matter, because a life was lost," he said.
"What is worrisome is the accused's propensity to commit crimes of a violent nature ... It indicates that he has no regard for the law. He knew very well he was going to be sentenced for assault with the intention to cause grievous bodily harm and was awaiting trial for robbery when he committed the offences he is being sentenced for today."
Koeries said Cupido did not seem remorseful. He said having considered the seriousness of the offences, Cupido's personal circumstances and the interests of society, the only appropriate sentence was direct imprisonment.
Previous articles:
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
