The Pretoria High Court in Palm Ridge on Tuesday sentenced Bongani Patrick Tau (24) and Andile Mpangeva (23) to 25 years in prison for the murder of prominent Vereeniging lawyer Eric Hillary Lyell. This comes after Judge Tonny Thobane found them guilty of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition and defeating the ends of justice.
It is alleged that at the time of the incident, Tau was employed by the victim as a general worker and stayed with him at his home in Three Rivers, Vereeniging. Mpangeva, who was friends with Tau, used to visit the place. This is according to the National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana.
“The two assaulted and killed the victim with a pick handle On January 11, 2019. After this, they took his vehicle, cellphone, and wristwatch, as well as his firearm and ammunition. They covered the deceased’s body with a plastic bag, drove to the Vaal dam where they dumped it, and fled to the Eastern Cape,” said Mahanjana.
Mahanjana said Lyell was reported missing by his family after they could not reach him on the phone. “Investigations led to the two being arrested in the Eastern Cape, on separate dates, 14 and 28 January 2019, and have been in custody since after the NPA successfully opposed bail,” said Mahanjana.
According to Mahanjana the two pleaded not guilty to the allegations brought against them in court and denied murdering the dead. “However, due to overwhelming evidence against them, the state was able to establish its case beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Mahanjana.
In aggravation, Adv. Trott Mphahlele told the court that the deceased trusted the two, but they took advantage of their friendship with him and murdered him in the comfort of his own home. As a result, he requested that the court impose a sentence that would convey a message to the community that justice had been done.
Adv. Sibongile Mzinyathi appreciated the hard work done by the investigating officer, SAPS Warrant Officer Samuel Zithobele Ndaba and the prosecutor that led to the conviction and the sentence.
