Anger at deadly drunk driver sentence
The Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) is seeking legal advice, after a man found guilty of killing two officers while driving drunk received a suspended sentence.
Albert Pretorius crashed into two female JMPD officers at a roadblock on Witkoppen Road in Fourways in January 2018, killing them instantly.
#ATT #AVOID #FatalWitkoppenRoadblock
Scene of the crash where 2 JMPD officers lost their lives, 2 people critically injured, 3 others seriously injured and one other minor injury. RIP to the officers. pic.twitter.com/m2Um41AwTq— PigSpotter™ Pty Ltd (@PigSpotter) January 29, 2018
He was found guilty on two counts of culpable homicide involving a motor vehicle, and was sentenced to six years in prison, suspended for five years on the condition that he is not convicted of the same criminal act during the period of suspension.
Pretorius was also given the option of paying an R10,000 fine or serve one year behind bars for driving drunk.
His drivers license has not been suspended.
JMPD Spokesperson Wayne Minnaar told eNCA.com that the city and the families are completely shocked at the sentence handed to Pretorius.
“We are not leaving it here. The Chief of the JMPD has requested the findings … be handed over to the City of Johannesburg’s legal team. We will see what happens from there regarding whether or not the case needs to be taken to a higher court.”
Former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba says he is angered at what he called a “slap on the wrist’ sentence for Pretorius.
He’s urged the National Prosecuting Authority to appeal the sentence.
I’m shocked & angered by the news that Albert Pretorius is effectively getting a slap on the wrist after he crashed into two JMPD officers while driving drunk, killing them on the spot. The NPA must appeal. I stand with the dedicated officers of the JMPD. cc @AsktheChiefJMPD pic.twitter.com/XOTfX292ky
— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) January 20, 2020
Public Safety MMC Michael Sun also vented his frustration saying, “Pretorius will not pay a cent or spend a day in jail for destroying lives”.
He’s also called on the NPA to appeal the sentence.
I am shocked to recv this judgment. Albert Pretorius was drunk when he crashed his car into 2 JMPD officers & killing them on the spot. Pretorius will not pay a cent or spend a day in jail for destroying lives says Magistrate GL Schnetler of Wynberg. NPA must appeal the sentence pic.twitter.com/kELXYdK4FS
— Michael Sun (@MichaelSun168) January 20, 2020
In other news – More details on Rami Chuene’s exit from #TheQueenMzansi – Taking legal action against The Ferguson
Rami Chuene taking legal action! It seems like not so long ago when Rami Chuene landed a role on the hit telenovela #TheQueenMzansi after an agreement with the Fergusons that she’d join the show if she gets 10k likes on her request tweet.
But it seems things have turned to a sour note and Rami is leaving the show. continue reading
Source: eNCA
