De Aar man sentenced to 12 years for sheep shears murder

THE DE AAR Regional Court sentenced Kurtley Lukas, 27, to 12 years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the murder of Nico Lodewyk, 37.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Northern Cape spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said on Monday that the incident took place on March 3, 2024, while Lukas and his friends were seated under a tree consuming alcohol.

“An argument erupted and escalated into a physical altercation. During the fight, the deceased [Lodewyk] arrived at the scene and intervened, assisting his brother in assaulting the accused [Lukas]. The accused fled the scene and went to a nearby house. He returned armed with a pair of sheep shears and proceeded to stab the deceased in the neck. The deceased sustained fatal injuries and was declared dead at the scene,” said Senokoatsane.

He added that State prosecutor Xolisa March presented a victim impact statement outlining the profound emotional trauma and severe financial hardship suffered by Lodewyk’s family as a result of his untimely and violent death.

“In delivering the sentence, the magistrate found that the accused’s status as a first-time offender and his guilty plea constituted substantial and compelling circumstances that justified a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence. The court accordingly imposed a sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment. In addition, the accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm.”

Senokoatsane said the NPA reiterated that the right to life is a fundamental and constitutionally protected right that must be respected and upheld at all times.

“Acts of violence, particularly those arising from disputes and exacerbated by alcohol abuse, continue to have devastating and irreversible consequences for families and communities.

“The NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that those who unlawfully take the lives of others are held accountable,” he added.