Gevandre Janties was found guilty of murder in the Knysna Regional Court after the state rejected a guilty plea to a charge of premeditated murder.
CAPE TOWN – A Knysna man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for murdering his wife.
Gevandre Janties was found guilty of murder in the Knysna Regional Court after the state rejected a guilty plea to a charge of premeditated murder.
The 30-year-old claimed that he accidentally punched Mercia Kleinbui in March 2020.
During the trial, the court heard that Mercia Kleinbui scolded her husband for walking with their three-year-old daughter late at night.
Jantjis claimed he and his wife were drinking beer while she sat on the couch behind him while he cut the meat.
According to his version, he turned around to speak to her and accidentally stabbed her.
However, the expert examination revealed that the action could not have been accidental.
After the stabbing, the defendant visited his aunt’s house and left his wife bleeding on the floor instead of seeking help.
He passed out in bed after drinking more alcohol and was awakened the next morning by police officers.
When passing the sentence, the court took into account the fact that the accused had been in custody since his arrest in March 2020.
