Craig Amon, 27, was handed a hefty sentence in the Western Cape High Court.
Image: Hawks
A Cape Town man who has been convicted for murdering a police officer has been sentenced to four life terms plus 84 years in the Western Cape High Court.
Craig Amon, 27, was convicted on January 16, for the murders of Constable Khangelani Magqabini, Aviwe Selanto, Mandiphiwe Brilliant Magavu, and Thembelani Mpongwana.
He was further convicted of seven counts of attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Evidence before the court revealed that on August 27, 2017, in Berio Street in Delft South, a social gathering was taking place at the house when a shooting incident occurred at the house of Selanto.
There were eight people inside the house, and the incident started when three Coloured men tried robbing Yamkela Selanto in front of his brother Aviwe.
Yamkela called for assistance, and an altercation took place between the relatives and the suspects. The men left. The court heard that one Coloured man returned to the home minutes late,r where he just opened fire.
Aviwe and two others were killed, while two others sustained injuries.
Amon was later identified as the shooter.
On June 3, 2020, at about midnight in Delft South, two off-duty police officers were socialising with friends.
Amon approached one of the police constables, and a violent altercation took place. He stabbed the police officer in the back of his neck. The police officer survived after extensive medical treatment.
On March 19, 2021, at about 6pm in Nielsen Street, Delft, Constable Khangelani Magqabini was shot in front of his home. This took place minutes after the police officer had a violent altercation with Amon at a nearby tavern.
The Constable, who was off-duty at the time, was rushed to a nearby hospital but died on arrival. He sustained gunshot wounds to his head.
The provincial spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks), Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, said Amon was identified and linked to the cases.
The court ordered that the sentences imposed run concurrently.
Effectively, Amon will serve direct life imprisonment.
Head of the Hawks in the Western Cape, Major General MS Makgato, welcomed the sentencing and commended the investigating team and prosecutors for a sterling job.
Makgato further cautioned perpetrators who targeted police officials and said an attack on police is an attack on the state and officials will leave no stone unturned to bring those responsible to book.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
IOL