Pretoria – The Pretoria High Court on Monday sentenced 29-year-old Oscar Maroga to one life term and 12 years direct imprisonment.
Maroga had earlier been convicted of the murder of Addry Simon Appels, attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The court heard that on 2 September 2021 Appels, together with the complainant in the matter, were in a yard at a house in Eersterust, east of Pretoria, when
Moraga and his co-accused – who has since passed away, fired multiple shots at them.
Appels and the complainant were shot and wounded.
Unfortunately, Appels died on arrival in the hospital.
After investigations, Maroga was arrested on 8 September 2021 and was later released on bail on 6 December 2021.
Maroga was, however, rearrested on 12 July 2022 after he was caught with an illegal gun.
In court, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Maroga told the court that on the day of the incident, he was on his way to buy drugs and his now-deceased co-accused was the one that shot the complainant and killed Appels.
Before sentencing on Monday, the accused asked the court to consider that he has already spent some time in custody.
However, Prosecutor Advocate Mokautu Masilo reminded the court that the time spent in custody was of the accused’s own doing.
Maroga was on bail on this matter when he committed another crime.
Advocate Masilo told the court that Maroga showed no remorse for his actions and a sentence of life imprisonment was appropriate.
Judge Masopa agreed with the state that Maroga did not express any remorse.
During the trial, Maroga confessed to being a drug user who resided at a house where drugs were sold.
The judge said he hopes the life sentence meted out to Maroga will give him a chance to be a changed person who respects the law.
