The High Court of South Africa sitting in Colesberg, Northern Cape, has sentenced Benjamin Klaaste(39) for the murder of 82-year-old Sophie Miles and housebreaking with the intent to commit an offence. 

On the night of 15 October 2022, the accused who resided in the Sabelo suburb, near the town of Richmond, unlawfully and intentionally broke into the house of the elderly woman who was staying alone intending to commit an offence of killing the victim. 

NPA Regional Spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said, "It is alleged that upon breaking into the house of the victim, the accused strangled the victim to death. 

The following day on 16 October 2022, neighbours observed that one of the doors to the victim's house was open, but they did not investigate the reason for this. On Monday, 17 October 2022, the door was still open and members of the community decided to enter the house of the deceased. Upon entering the house, witnesses found the almost fully naked body of the deceased on the floor in one of the rooms of the house. 

Through detailed forensic investigation by the police, the accused was identified as a person of interest and was swiftly arrested by the police. The forensic reports indicated that the victim died as a result of strangulation and with bite marks on her body."

Senior State Advocate Anel Stellenberg for the prosecution argued that the court should send a clear message to perpetrators of such crimes, that they will be caught convicted, and sentenced appropriately for committing such heinous crimes. 

"The accused targeted an elderly person knowing very well that she was living alone, and she wouldn't be able to defend herself against the accused," he said.

Stellenberg reasoned that the court should impose an applicable sentence on the murder charge as the accused did not show any remorse for his actions. In sentencing, the court agreed with the prosecution and deviated from a prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years of direct imprisonment for such an offence and the accused was sentenced to 20 years of direct imprisonment and eight years imprisonment for housebreaking.