Man who killed for mandrax, cigarette is jailed for 20 years

Lynn Shaw HERALD REPORTER

A GELVANDALE resident who killed a man for half a mandrax tablet and a cigarette was yesterday sentenced to 20 years‘ imprisonment by the Port Elizabeth High Court.

Steven Booysen, 26, shot Shaun Plaatjies in Gelvandale on September 13, 2007.

Larigan Terblanche, 23, who was also charged with the murder, was found guilty of being an accessory after the fact.

The men were sentenced to 20 years‘ and eight years‘ imprisonment, respectively. Booysen was sentenced to a further 15 years for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

The men approached Plaatjies after he bought the mandrax and demanded money from him.

When he told them he had no money, they took the cigarette and the mandrax tablet from him, and Booysen shot him.

During sentencing, Judge Ronnie Pillay said Booysen had been found guilty of one of the most serious offences of all and Terblanche had been a willing participant in trying to hide the body.

He said the arrogance Booysen had displayed by shooting Plaatjies in the head in a public place could be seen as a serious aggravating circumstance. Murder using a firearm was a crime on the increase in the city‘s northern areas.

“The community has for a long time called for harsh sentences to be imposed on criminals in their community. I do not think that I will be overstating their approach when I say they are sick and tired of such offences.

“If the court does not heed their call for stern action, it will bring itself into disrepute. Perhaps it will lead to the community taking the law into their own hands.”

Pillay said the courts needed to discourage the younger generation from terrorising residents, especially when they were using weapons of destruction.

Senior state advocate Jason Thysse appeared on behalf of the state.