Murderers lose bid for lighter sentences

Two men determined by Eastern Cape High Court (Port Elizabeth) Judge Glenn Goosen to have been involved in the Spotbouer gang lost their appeals to have their life sentences for murder reduced. The Herald reports Damian ‘Oom Jan’ Kammies (24) and Warren ‘Wakka’ Steyn (25) were found guilty on charges of murder, kidnapping and housebreaking with the intent to do grievous bodily harm. Kammies was further found guilty of the illegal possession of a firearm. Goosen said there were no compelling or substantial circumstances to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence of life for murder. Goosen said the court would only depart from the prescribed sentence if that sentence would be disproportionate and bring about an injustice. ‘Despite denials of association with street-gang activities, and in particular the Spotbouer gang, the weight of the evidence establishes beyond doubt that (Kammies) and (Steyn) are indeed active members of the Spotbouer gang. In this case, the known facts point to the commission of a spate of crimes driven by a desire to correct an “outrage” perpetrated against a comrade and a desire to recover a firearm,’ Goosen said. Goosen sentenced Kammies to five years each for housebreaking, kidnapping and the unlawful possession of a firearm and life for murder. Steyn was sentenced to three years each for housebreaking and kidnapping and life for murder. Goosen ordered that the sentences run concurrently with the life sentences.