Mother of slain teen says she can finally get peace after killer's sentencing

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING STORY CONTAINS SOME GRAPHIC DETAILS OF CHILD MURDER 

JOHANNESBURG - The mother of the murdered Klawer teenager, Jerobejin van Wyk said that she will now finally start picking up the pieces, following the sentencing of her child's killer.

Daniel Smit was sentenced to life imprisonment in the High Court sitting in Vredendal on Monday for Jerobejin's murder in February 2022.

The 58-year-old, who was taught how 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, in the sleepy West Coast town of Klawer in February 2022, after he had accused Van Wyk and a friend of stealing fruit off his property.

Triesa van Wyk said that her child's death has had a devastating impact on their family and she will never be able to forgive Smit for taking her only son away from her in such a brutal manner.

"It breaks my heart up until today. I will never forgive him. He left a pain that I will carry with me for the rest of my life."

Smit has also been sentenced to 10 years for kidnapping, 15 years for attempted murder, three years for defeating the ends of justice and five years for violating a corpse.

The sentences will run concurrently and the former train driver will not be eligible for parole until he's served two-thirds of his sentence.

In a letter to the court, Smit apologised and asked for forgiveness, and offered his bakkie to the grieving mother.