“The families of those who get sentenced will be able to visit them. Their children will be able to visit them. I have to go to a graveyard. It’s not right,” the mother of slain Ezra Daniels from Parkwood cried Tuesday in the Western Cape High Court.
There was not a dry eye in the gallery as Desiree Daniels, 53, took the stand to explain the impact the loss of her seven-year-old son has had on her family.
She was testifying in aggravation of sentencing for Marlon Neehuis, who has entered into a plea and sentencing agreement with the State for the murder.
The boy was struck in the neck by a bullet intended for a gangster in Abdulla Moosa Walk in September 2017.
SCENE: Cops surround Ezra’s body on Abdulla Moosa Walk
“It’s been a year and eight months from Wynberg (Magistrates’) Court until here; court in and court out, and after all this I won’t get my son back,” Desiree said as she broke down.
The mother of four recalled the day her son was shot: “My older son called me shouting, ‘Mommy, they shot Ezra’.
“I ran out, fell on my knees and grabbed his hands and asked God to please allow him to live. He choked, rolled his eyes twice and his eyes closed.
“I knew he had passed on.”
VICTIM: Ezra Daniels was 7
Desiree says there has been no remorse.
“I can say from my heart, nobody has remorse for our family’s (loss).
“I have no anger towards anyone. I have to forgive because God forgives.
“But at the end of the day it seems I did something to them. It’s not about them, it’s about MY child who died,” the mother said.
Asked by the State prosecutor, Ronelle Stone, what she thought was an appropriate sentence Desiree said: “Hy moet staan vir wat hy gedoen het.”
Taking the stand on Monday, Neehuis, 28, begged the court for a second chance, had he known Tasliem ‘Thaliem’ Bianchi had a gun, he would not have allowed him into his car.
ACCUSED: Driver Matlon Neehuis
Two weeks ago, Bianchi, 33, the leader of the JFK gang in Parkwood, also entered into a plea and sentencing agreement and was sentenced to 25 years behind bars.
On Thursday, Tasliem’s brother, Ikeraam Bianchi, Kimberly Solomons and Kelly Daniels were all acquitted by Judge Rosheni Allie after the State failed to prove their involvement.
FAMILY: Ezra’s dad Theodore and sister Chané Daniels
The group was charged with Ezra’s murder, as well as two attempted murders, the unlawful possession of ammunition and a firearm, and two counts of contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca) for their alleged involvement in gang activity.
Neehuis is expected to be sentenced on Thursday.