A VEREENIGING magistrate yesterday jailed two brothers for three years for the murder of their elder brother.
A VEREENIGING magistrate yesterday jailed two brothers for three years for the murder of their elder brother.
Ronald McCarthy, 24, and Reagan McCarthy, 28, were sentenced after they were convicted last month for killing their brother Elton, 32, at their parental home in Ennerdale, Johannesburg.
Elton was stabbed to death with a screwdriver and his body buried in a shallow grave in their backyard.
Ronald and Reagan claimed they killed Elton, a drug addict, because he had made their lives a "living hell".
They said they had suffered both physical and emotional abuse from him for years.
He was later reported missing to the police and his body was discovered six months later.
Police exhumed Elton's body after they received information that he was buried in a shallow grave in the backyard.
Their lawyer, Thomas Mahlobogoane, pleaded with the court for a suspended sentence.
"My clients have pleaded guilty and have accepted their wrongfulness. They showed remorse to the court and to their entire family.
"The seriousness of the offence is that a life was lost. The deceased was a blood brother to them and they have to live with the consequences of their actions for the rest of their lives. I plead with the court to place the accused under correctional supervision."
He said the two had acknowledged their wrongfulness and had made peace with their family.
Magistrate Rieta Willemse said the court had accepted a pre-sentencing report by social workers on the accused.
"The court has to look at the offence. The murder of your brother will stay in your consciences forever and you should serve time in prison," she said.
Jail for siblings who killed brother
A VEREENIGING magistrate yesterday jailed two brothers for three years for the murder of their elder brother.
A VEREENIGING magistrate yesterday jailed two brothers for three years for the murder of their elder brother.
Ronald McCarthy, 24, and Reagan McCarthy, 28, were sentenced after they were convicted last month for killing their brother Elton, 32, at their parental home in Ennerdale, Johannesburg.
Elton was stabbed to death with a screwdriver and his body buried in a shallow grave in their backyard.
Ronald and Reagan claimed they killed Elton, a drug addict, because he had made their lives a "living hell".
They said they had suffered both physical and emotional abuse from him for years.
He was later reported missing to the police and his body was discovered six months later.
Police exhumed Elton's body after they received information that he was buried in a shallow grave in the backyard.
Their lawyer, Thomas Mahlobogoane, pleaded with the court for a suspended sentence.
"My clients have pleaded guilty and have accepted their wrongfulness. They showed remorse to the court and to their entire family.
"The seriousness of the offence is that a life was lost. The deceased was a blood brother to them and they have to live with the consequences of their actions for the rest of their lives. I plead with the court to place the accused under correctional supervision."
He said the two had acknowledged their wrongfulness and had made peace with their family.
Magistrate Rieta Willemse said the court had accepted a pre-sentencing report by social workers on the accused.
"The court has to look at the offence. The murder of your brother will stay in your consciences forever and you should serve time in prison," she said.
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