Killer hijackers get 18 years
2012-06-14 12:43
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE: Above shows Simon Machave (left) and David Lebesi after their sentencing in Potchefstroom. Inset: Johan, Talita and Tiaan Fourie. Image: Beeld.
JOHANNESBURG - Two men who killed a man they had hijacked as well as a family of three, have been sentenced to 18 years in jail by the Potchefstroom Circuit Court, Beeld reported.
Simon Machave (21) and David (Lebesi 31) hijacked Batimedi Mothupi's Toyota Condor near Klerksdorp on January 23, 2010.
A car chase between police and the hijackers occured when the criminals drove into oncoming traffic, killing Johan and Talita Fourie and their three-month-old son, Tiaan.
Mothupi was flung out of the getaway car and also killed.
Machave, who was seriously injured in the crash, later escaped from hospital in a wheelchair. He was tracked down the following day, crawling 2km away from the hospital.
The two were sentenced by Judge John Horn who found Machave and Lebesi guilty of aggravated robbery, kidnapping and the illegal possession of a firearm.