Man convicted of the premediated murder of his ex-girlfriend

The Western Cape High Court has found the man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, who was a primary school teacher, in Clanwilliam in 2019, guilty of premeditated murder.

 Source: News24

Philip April confessed to the murder in October 2019. However, the State argued that the 26-year-old Allison Plaatjies, murder was premeditated, which the defense argued.

The court found that April rationally calculated his actions when he murdered Plaatjies. And that it was premeditated.

April was also found guilty of the theft of the deceased’s vehicle, which he was found in possession of, after her murder.

Acting Judge Nonthuthuzelo Ralarala handed down the judgment and said based on the evidence that was presented by the state, had committed premeditated murder and that he had taken her car without her consent.

“There was clearly a thought process involved in Mr April’s actions leading to the killing of Plaatjies. It is evident in this case that Mr April had direct intent to kill the deceased. The State’s evidence showed that the thought process did not only begin when he killed her as it demonstrated in his statement.”

“The evidence does not only show that Mr April calculated his moves; it also shows that his actions were deliberate. I am therefore satisfied that the circumstances under which the murder was committed by Mr. April, show that the murder of Allison Plaatjies was premeditated”, she stated.

The NPA spokesperson in the Western Cape, Eric Ntabazalila said they will be asking for a life sentence to be imposed.

“We’ll argue for a very strong sentence against the accused, considering the case against him and the manner in which he killed her. It’s a good day for us, but it’s a sad day for the people of the Western Cape. This is the third conviction in two days on cases against women and children, gender-based and femicide”, he said.

Sentencing proceedings are expected to get underway on the 1^st December.

By Lulama Klassen