The mother of a six-month-old baby who was gunned down in a drive-by shooting says she’s finally received justice.
Mom Cindy Woodward was emotional outside the Western Cape High Court on Thursday, where two of the four men accused of killing her daughter Zahnia in Ocean View in 2016 were found guilty.
The verdict was handed down by Judge Robert Henney who ruled that there was “overwhelming” evidence against Christopher September and Larry Johnson, proving their involvement in the baby’s death.
On 30 December 2016, a bullet hit Zahnia in the head as men in a white VW Golf opened fire on her father Bradley Robyn and five of his friends in Carnation Road.
Zahnia had been sitting on Bradley’s lap, and the two had been waiting for Cindy to come from work.
Larry Johnson (left) was found guilty of murder. At right is Morne May, who was acquitted. Photo: Brendan Magaar / African News Agency
Witnesses said the car had driven past the group several times before the shooting, and that it was impossible for the shooters not to have seen the baby.
On Thursday, September and Johnson remained stone-faced as Judge Henney read his summary of the trial, which included 21 witnesses.
Judge Henney said that the men had conspired to get rid of the VW Golf belonging to Johnson proved they had been part of the murder.
Christopher Septemeber
“The evidence against them is overwhelming,” said Judge Henney. “Why didn’t he (Johnson) want the police to get hold of the white Golf if he and accused one (September) were not involved?”
Judge Henney acquitted Tashwill Kriel and Morne May of all 15 charges against them. He then asked September and Johnson to rise and found them guilty of Zahnia’s murder.
At this, Cindy could be heard shedding tears of relief in the public gallery.
Tashwill Kriel was not guilty. Photo: Brendan Magaar / African News Agency
The judge further found September and Johnson guilty of the attempted murder of Bradley and the other people who were wounded in the shooting, including Bradley’s father, Peter Robyn, who he regarded as a sterling witness.
He said Peter was selfless in attempting to stop the fleeing suspects by throwing a large stone at the car. “He (Peter) was not scared or worried what would happen to him and he wanted to do everything in his power to stop the vehicle.”
Judge Henney said both Bradley and Peter did an “honourable job” placing September and Johnson at the scene despite the accused claiming they were elsewhere at the time.
Zahnia's mother Cindy Woodward. Photo: Brendan Magaar / African News Agency (ANA)
He found September and Johnson not guilty of counts seven, eight, nine, 10 and 12 relating to the attempted murder of people at the scene, stating there was a lack of evidence to prove the crimes had been commissioned.
Both men were also found guilty of the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Johnson and his mother, Mirriam Johnson, were found guilty of defeating the ends of justice in their attempt to get rid of his car, which was found abandoned an hour after the shooting in Masiphumelele.
September was found not guilty on this charge.
At the start of the trial, accused six, Simone Kindo, entered into a plea and sentencing agreement and was given a four-year sentence for obstructing justice after she tried to hide the car.
Video: Genevieve Serra/Daily Voice
Outside court, Cindy said she was happy with the ruling: “At least somebody is sitting for her murder and not all of them are being released. But they are guilty; that is the one word I have been waiting for.
“My baby would have been two years and five months old today and I am glad that we found justice.”
The matter was postponed to Monday for sentencing.