Three armed robbers from Zim who killed SA boxer sentenced to 43 years in jail

By Aaron Dube

SOUTH AFRICA – Three Zimbabweans who killed South African former world heavyweight boxing champion Corrie Sanders in 2012 during an armed robbery were sentenced to 43 years in prison – although they will only serve 30 years.

South African High Court Judge Ferdi Preller sentenced Paida Fish, Chris Moyo and Samuel Mabena – but families of the deceased believe the judge was too lenient.

They were sentenced to 19 years for armed robbery and a further six years for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Preller ordered that some of the sentences run concurrently, giving a sentence of in effect 30 years for each as they are all first offenders.

“Fortunately trials and sentences are not conducted by way of opinion polls. I am left in the middle and can do no better than to follow the law,” Preller said.

Sanders was shot during an armed robbery at the Thatch Haven Country Lodge outside Brits, he died in Kalafong Hospital, Pretoria.

Fish and Moyo were identified by the guests who they robbed at a police identity parade.

The Zimbabweans were arrested at Oukasie informal settlement close to Brits, all were found in possession of some of the items taken.

Many people are calling for the death penalty in gruesome cases like these.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the robbery had been premeditated, carefully planned and carried out with military precision,” he said.

“The intention of that shooting would undoubtedly have been to intimidate the victims and make sure there is no resistance. Since not one of the witnesses who gave evidence actually saw the firing of the fatal shot it is impossible to make any finding about the circumstances under which the deceased was shot,” he said.

He said although he was painfully aware of the consequences Sanders’s murder had on his two children, his mother and the rest of his family, his finding that there had not been any direct intent to murder justified the imposition of a lesser sentence.

Preller did not regard the accused’s relative youth and clean criminal records as mitigation, nor the fact that they were from another country.

“I am aware that the accused are all Zimbabwean citizens who fled their country to try and make a better living in South Africa.

“Whether the better life for which they came included the commission of serious crimes is unfortunately not clear on the evidence,” he said.

There is not sufficient evidence to even remotely make an estimate of the value of the goods that were robbed.

Preller regard this as one of the more serious kinds of robberies.

Sanders’s mother Alida, his son Dean, daughter Marinique, and brother Michael were among who attended the sentence last week.

The family wants to start their lives afresh before thinking about forgiveness for his brother’s murderers even though Marinique Sanders said she was not happy about the sentence. The Zimbabwean