Two WC gunmen sentenced to life for killing 5-year-old caught in crossfire
The Western Cape High Court handed down life sentences to Carlo Hoffmeester and Chadwin Isaacs on Tuesday for the incident in December 2019.
Picture: Rejoice Ndlovu/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - Two gunmen have been sentenced to life behind bars for the murder of a five-year-old boy who was caught in gang crossfire in Lavender Hill.
The Western Cape High Court handed down life sentences to Carlo Hoffmeester and Chadwin Isaacs on Tuesday for the incident in December 2019.
The accused shot and killed five-year-old Valentino Grootetjie at his Drury Court home when the intended target was a 22-year-old man.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)'s spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said Grootetjie was playing in the yard of his Drury Court home, in Lavender Hill, when he was hit by a stray bullet.
Hoffmeester and Isaacs, who were arrested after the incident five years ago, were sentenced to life imprisonment for Grootetjie's murder.
"They were also sentenced to 90 years' direct imprisonment for nine attempted murders and eight years' direct imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition," said Ntabazalila.
He added that the accused were members of the Fast Guns gang who were engaged in drug turf wars with the Mongrels Gang in Lavender Hill and surrounding areas at the time.