Ezra: Killer driver jailed
|Published
CONVICTED: Marlon Neehuis will mang lank for his role in boy’s death CONVICTED: Marlon Neehuis will mang lank for his role in boy’s death
The man who drove the car that was used in the murder of seven-year-old Ezra Daniels of Parkwood has been sentenced to 52 years behind bars.
Marlon Neehuis, 28, entered into a plea and sentencing agreement at the Western Cape High Court last week, and begged the court for a “second chance”, insisting he was never a gangster.
But his pleas fell on deaf ears and yesterday Judge Rosheni Allie said although Neehuis showed “a measure of remorse”, she found him to have been complicit in the senseless killing of an innocent child.
Ezra was struck in the neck by a bullet intended for a gangster in Abdulla Moosa Walk in September 2017.
JUSTICE: Ezra Daniels, 7, was shot and killed in Parkwood
Neehuis was sentenced to 25 years in prison for Ezra’s murder; five years for contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca); eight years each for the attempted murders of his own son, who had been playing with Ezra at the time and the rival skollie; four years for the illegal possession of a firearm; and two years for the illegal possession of ammunition.
The sentences will run concurrently with the murder charge, meaning he will effectively serve 25 years.
Neehuis remained calm, his face expressionless as he listened to his fate.
“The accused made himself complicit in the murder by driving down Abdulla Moosa Walk, Parkwood Estate, when he saw an alleged member of a rival gang standing near the house that he intended going to,” said Judge Allie.
“To the extent that the accused said during his evidence in mitigation of sentence that he didn’t know that Thaliem Bianci had a firearm, this court rejects that allegation as it defies common sense and logic, that the accused would make space for Thaliem Bianchi without knowing that he was going to shoot.”
Two weeks ago Bianchi, 33, the leader of the JFK gang in Parkwood, was sentenced to 25 years in jail after also entering into a plea agreement.
Last week three other accused Bianchi’s brother Ikeraam, Kimberley Solomons and Kelly Daniels were aqcuitted of all charges due to a lack of evidence.
VICTORY: Relief for Ezra’s parents, Desiree and Theodore
Allie said there was no concern for residents as the shooting happened in broad daylight.
“The accused still has his life and family while the life of the deceased, an innocent seven-year-old boy, happily playing in the street, was snuffed out.
“The deceased’s family has been irreparably traumatised and torn apart with the pain of his brutal and untimely death,” Allie said.
Ezra’s immediate family was not at court, but family spokesperson, Beryl Williams, says they were overjoyed by the hefty sentence.
“This is a victory. Today the family makes peace. Today Ezra will finally rest in peace,” she said.