By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The High Court of South Africa; North West Division, sitting at the Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court, has sentenced Odirile Figland (27), to two life terms on two counts of murder and a cumulative 85 years for other serious offences.
Figland was convicted on two counts of murder, one of attempted murder, two of unlawful possession of a firearm, two of unlawful possession of ammunition, one of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and one of housebreaking with intent to commit an offence.
His application for leave to appeal was also dismissed by the court.
According to Henry Mamothame, NPA Regional Spokesperson the conviction relates to an incident that occurred at Wintervelt in Odi, in June 2017, at a tavern.
Mamothame said that Figland was playing dice with the friends of Zonele Abraham (deceased) before a squabble ensued.
“Figland took out a gun and started firing shots at one of the friends who managed to flee without being shot at.
“Shortly afterwards, Abrahams approached Figland armed with a beer bottle, enquiring why there was an attempt to shoot his friend.
“One of Finland’s friends grabbed the bottle from Abrahams and hit him on the head.
“A pandemonium erupted and in the midst of it all, Figland pulled out a gun and fired three shots toward Abrahams.
“But two missed him and the third hit him on the abdomen. He died on his way to the hospital,” said Mamothame.
Mamothame said that in a separate incident that took place in March 2018, in Wintervelt, Figland approached three women who were walking from a tavern, and he called one of them by name (Dineo) before enquiring about where they were heading to.
“One of them, identified as Susan responded and said their destination was not his problem.
“This angered Figland, as he started assaulting Susan, but she managed to free herself and ran into a nearby yard.
“He followed her into the yard and started assaulting her again. The owner of the house Isaiah Mabena and his wife, went out to investigate the commotion in their yards.
“They then witnessed Figland assaulting Susan, and they reprimanded him to stop. He stopped while swearing at them and he promised to come back and show them who he was.
“He later came back with a friend, who handed him a gun. He then fired shots at the window of the house before breaking the door.”
Upon entering the house, he fired several shots at Isaiah Mabena, who later died at a hospital.
In aggravation of sentence, Adv Takalani Muneri urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence.
Muneri argued that Figland was a dangerous killer who should be removed from society.
He further highlighted Figland’s previous conviction on a robbery charge in Jan 2014, wherein he got a five-year suspended sentence.
Judge Francis Snyman agreed with the state and also alluded to the responsibility bestowed on the courts to protect society by imposing sentences that would restore the credibility of the judiciary.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari Sekhaolelo lauded the state prosecutor and the investigating officer for ensuring that justice is served.
