By OBAKENG MAJE

A man (21) has been sentenced to 16 years imprisonment by the Northern Cape High Court sitting in Kimberley for murder, assault GBH, malicious damage to property, attempted arson and malicious damage to property. Wendell Swartz crime spree started on 23 September 2022, where he assaulted a man (29) with a panga in Koopmansfontein when attending a braai at a friend’s house.

Swartz then proceeded to smash all the windows of the vehicle belonging to his friend before fleeing the scene. On 22 March 2023, he set his parent’s house alight in Delportshoop.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said, Swartz then threw his sister and niece out the window, unfortunately he fled the scene while the police were assisting the two young girls.

Ehlers further said on 1 April 2023, Swartz slit the throat of a traditional healer (59), when she went to pray in the veld. She added that, the lifeless body of a traditional healer was discovered wrapped in a duvet the following day.

“The accused was arrested on 3 April 2023 at his parents’ home in Deportshoop. The community is encouraged to use the Rate-My-Service online survey to comment on the sterling work by the Delportshoop Detectives.

“The sentences will run concurrently. Swartz will serve 16 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to all charges,” said Ehlers.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended Detective Warrant Officer Jim Williams of the Deportshoop Detective Unit for securing the conviction against Swartz, who committed a spree of crimes between September 2022 and April 2023.

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