Harrismith – The adopted son of a Free State dominee pleaded guilty to his murder when he appeared in the Harrismith Circuit Court on Monday, Free State police said.

Martin Brits, 28, and Elliot Mhlambi, 41, both pleaded guilty to killing Dutch Reformed Church Rev Willem Brits, 60, in Harrismith, on the evening of Thursday, November 8 last year.

Brits’s future son-in-law Gerhard Vermeulen, 25, was also killed in the attack. His wife Dorothea, 59, was seriously wounded.

“The men pleaded guilty through… statements that were read in court,” said Sergeant Mmako Mophiring.

He said they could be sentenced sooner than expected because of the guilty plea.

“The trial is due to continue until next week Friday, but because of the plea a sentence could be handed down as early as Friday,” he said.

The men were expected to take the stand on Tuesday.

Brits faced two charges of murder, one of attempted murder and one of robbery. Mhlambi faced additional charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Sapa