Man gets life imprisonment for killing brother in shoe fight 

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the man, Christoffel Samuel Irion (32), appeared in  the Northern Cape Division sitting in Upington.

THE MAN FOUGHT WITH HIS BROTHER OVER SHOES BEFORE HE STABBED HIM

According to NPA Regional spokesperson, Mojalefa Senokoatsane the incident happened in 2019. 

“During the afternoon of 02 November 2019, Samuel and his brother, Jacques Jacobus Irion were at their parental home when an argument between the two brothers ensued because Samuel wanted his brother to take off his shoes and the brother refused to remove the shoes. 

“Samuel took a knife and stabbed his brother in the back. Samuel stabbed the neighbor in the head when he tried to intervene as the brother ran out of the house to seek help.

HE TOOK A KNIFE AND STABBED HIS BROTHER IN THE BACK

Senokoatsane stated that the brother died at the scene, and the police arrested him afterward. 

“Samuel was incarcerated for eleven months until the matter was struck off the roll due to incomplete investigations.” 

 He said on 27 February 2021, Samuel visited the home of his girlfriend where he found his girlfriend, her aunt, and her father Jacob van Wyk. 

The court struck the matter off the roll

“He then instructed his girlfriend to accompany him and she refused. Samuel and his girlfriend’s father started to argue as the father tried to defend his daughter. It was during this disagreement that Samuel took a knife and stabbed Jacob van Wyk who died on the scene. The police were called and he was arrested.”

Senokoatsane said.

He was charged with two counts of murder and assault. 

The State Advocate, Sue-Ann Weyers-Gericke, argued that the accused should receive the maximum sentence applicable for such serious offenses, as he did not only kill one person but also killed two and injured another.

YEARS LATER HE STABBED HIS GIRLFRIEND’S FATHER TO DEATH

“He killed his brother for a pair of shoes and killed a father who was trying to defend his daughter. He did not only show a lack of remorse but lacked empathy because he killed two innocent people, without taking into consideration the loss his actions would bring to the two families.” 

In sentencing, the court found satisfaction in the evidence presented by the state through its witnesses and sentenced him to 15 years for count one of murder, as per Section 51(2) of Act 105 of 1997.

He received a hefty sentence this week

Samuel received five years for count two of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm and life imprisonment for count three of murder, as per Section 51(1) of Act 105 of 1997.

“The National Prosecuting Authority envisages that these sentences will bring closure to families of the victims, who lost their loved ones so mercilessly in the hands of the one they trusted.”