The Lichtenburg court has finally sentenced a 37-year-old Ethiopian national to life imprisonment for robbery and murder which he committed five years ago.
NPA statement said the Lichtenburg Regional Court sentenced Abraham Abebe Ergicho(37) to life imprisonment for murder and 15 years on each of the two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.The court further declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
Ergicho was arrested in 2020 after being on the run for more than two years and during his appearances in court pleaded not guilty for the charges.
"His conviction emanates from an incident that occurred on 09 May 2018 at a Shell garage in Lichtenburg,wherein he went to the cashier and ordered items.While awaiting his order,Francois Swart,who is the deceased together with his friend,entered the shop to make a purchase.A few moments later,Ergicho pulled out a gun and pointed it at the cashier,then turned and approached Swart and shot point blank at him without uttering a word.He then turned the gun to Swart's friend and robbed him of his wallet and car keys.He subsequently took off with the car and items he had ordered.The car was later discovered abandoned near Verdwaal village.He was arrested on 17 December 2020 and denied bail.He pleaded not guilty to the charges.He once tried to flee in court during trial,but the police managed to contain him,"said Henry Mamothame,NPA Regional Spokesperson.
The prosecution team agreed on one voice when it comes on a suitable sentence for Ergicho after he showed no remorse for what he did.
Mamothame said in aggravation of sentence,the state prosecutors,Adv Itumeleng Boikanyo and Adv Joyce Maseko,urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment as there were no compelling circumstances to do so.Magistrate Stefan du Toit agreed with the state as he imposed a life imprisonment to Ergicho,citing his remorseless conduct.
The splendid work which done by the prosecution and investigation team to convict the culprit was commended by the NPA management.
NPA statement concluded that the Director of Public Prosecutions,Dr Rachel Makhari,lauded the prosecution team,Captain Michael Viljoen from the South African Police Service(SAPS) and other role players for ensuring that the perpetrator is brought to book.