Delay in sentencing of teen killer, Daniel Smith
The 58-year-old killed 13-year-old Jerobejin Van Wyk in the sleepy West Coast town in February 2022.
Murder accused Daniel Smit appeared in the Vredendal Magistrates Court on 28 October 2024. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - There's a minor delay in the sentencing of convicted Klawer killer, Daniel Smit, on Monday.
The 58-year-old killed 13-year-old Jerobejin Van Wyk in the sleepy West Coast town in February 2022.
Smit, who was taught how to kill as a member of an occult group during his youth, has admitted to breaking the teen's neck, after knocking him over with his bakkie and then offering him food.
The murder took place in Smit's home after he had accused the boy and a friend of stealing fruit off his property.
Van Wyk’s loved ones and members of the Klawer community crammed into courtroom C’s long wooden benches, eagerly waiting for the case to start.
But there’s been an unforeseen delay.
Residents waited outside the court holding placards, reading "stop killing our women and children" and "justice for Jerobejin".
The High Court sitting in Vredendal last week found Smit guilty on charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, violating a corpse and defeating the ends of justice.
The State is opposing the defence's request for a 30-year sentence and has argued only life imprisonment will deliver justice.