The Pretoria Regional Court on Monday sentenced jailed serial murderer Shaun Oosthuizen to a fourth life imprisonment term after he confessed to another murder.
The 42-year-old accused was also sentenced to an additional 30 years imprisonment for aggravating circumstances.
Oosthuizen targeted elderly women whom he robbed and murdered.
On 8 July 2018, the accused travelled from Gauteng to Nelspruit where he went to Macadamia Old Age Home to rob and kill 85-year-old Henrietta Catharina Potgieter.
Oosthuizen was arrested and was later released on bail after his persistent applications.
While he was out on bail, the accused further committed another murder of an elderly resident, 74-year-old Barbara Esme Fenton, whom he strangled on 1 September 2018 at her home in Alberton.
The Hawks’ investigation led to the arrest of Oosthuisen immediately after the incident.
The multiple murder accused was further linked to another murder that occurred on 24 June 2018 where 86-year-old-Engela Van Wyk was killed and robbed at Rus n’ Bietjie Old Age Home in Springs.
Oosthuizen was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for Van Wyk’s murder and 15 years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
In December 2019, Oosthuizen was sentenced to life imprisonment for Fenton’s death and 20 years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
At that time Oosthuizen was in effect sentenced to three life sentences for killing the elderly women and 50 years for robbing them.
While serving the sentences Oosthuizen confessed to two other murders. He told the investigating officer that he had killed other victims in Sunnyside and Roodepoort.
Investigations confirmed that in December 2015, the accused broke into an old age home in Sunnyside whereby he robbed and killed 93-year-old Ema Gossen and fled the scene with her jewellery valued at R50 000.
The investigations further linked Oosthuizen with another incident in Roodepoort in August 2018 in which the accused murdered and robbed 77-year-old Lillas Merry.
Oosthuizen fled the scene with Merry’s jewellery valued at R50 000.
Today, the Pretoria Regional Court added extra life imprisonment for murder plus 30 years imprisonment for aggravating circumstances and bringing the total number to four life imprisonment plus 80 years imprisonment.
The Hawks’ Provincial Head, Major General Zodwa Mokoena applauded the investigating team for securing such substantial life sentences.
“We appreciate the collaboration between the investigators and judiciary for ensuring that the heartless criminal who tormented the elderly who could not fight for themselves is removed from the community,” she said.
She further urged everyone responsible for the safeguarding of the elderly to take extra care.
