PORT ELIZABETH - TEEN GUNMAN GETS 23 YEAR SENTENCE FOR SHOOTING COUPLE IN THEIR KLEINSKOOL HOME

A 19-year-old teenager was sentenced on 08 December 2020 in the Port Elizabeth High court to an effective 23 years in prison for the murder of a Bethelsdorp man and an attempted murder of his girlfriend.

On 15 August 2018, at about 06:15, Adrian Kammies (32) and his  fiancé (29) were at their Reconciliation Street home in Kleinskool when the suspect came to the house and started kicking the door.  

They ran into the bedroom and tried to block the door to keep it shut. 

The girlfriend opened the bedroom window to scream for help. 

An unknown male then came towards her pointing a firearm at her. 

The unknown male then started shooting through the open window into the bedroom. 

A second unknown person then also fired gunshots through the bedroom door into the bedroom.  Kammies sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died on the scene. 

The front door was also forced open.

Siphelele Lincen Gxasheka (19 ) was arrested on Friday,  5 April 2019 while walking in Goniwe Street in iZinyoka area near Missionvale. It is alleged that a member of the public spotted the suspect after recognising his picture published in the Herald as a wanted suspect in January 2019. The anonymous person contacted the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Xolani Peta who immediately acted on the information. Gxasheka, fitting the description, was spotted and arrested. He remained in custody until the finalisation of the case.

Gxasheka was linked through fingerprints and DNA found at the scene.

On 8 December 2020, Gxasheka was sentenced as follows:

House breaking with the intent to commit murder - 8 years imprisonment.

Murder - 23 years imprisonment

Attempted murder - 10 years imprisonment

Attempted murder - 10 years imprisonment

Unlawful possession of firearm - 8 years imprisonment

Unlawful possession of ammunition- 4 years imprisonment.

All counts to run concurrent with the murder sentence. Effectively he will serve 23 years in prison. At the time of the offence, the accused was almost 17-years-old.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga commended the investigating officer, the prosecuting authority and the community who came forward with valuable information after noticing the publication of the wanted accused. ‘It is very concerning when young people such as the accused start committing serious and violent crimes at such an early age. 

The sentence meted out to him will serve as a deterrent to young offenders that they will serve the most important years of their adult life in prison. There is no clemency for any person who does not have respect for human life,’ added Lt Gen Ntshinga.

via - SAPS