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IOL News
18 hours ago
- IOL News
18-year-old sentenced to 25 years for violent beach murder in Saldanha Bay
An 18-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder of Erlilo Byl, whom he stabbed and bludgeoned to death. Image: File An 18-year-old male who had sexual intercourse with another man on a beach in Saldanha Bay and then stabbed and bludgeoned him to death with a rock before making off with his cellphone has been sentenced to 25 years direct imprisonment. The Vredenburg Regional Court sentenced convicted murderer, Wesley Snyders, after he confessed that he stabbed Erlilo Byl, 27, all over his body, bludgeoned him with the rock and robbed him. The court ordered Snyders to serve two-thirds of the 25 year direct imprisonment sentence before he can be placed on parole. It also ordered Byl's family to be notified of the sentence and declared Snyders unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of Act 60 of 2000. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said Snyders confessed in a plea and sentence agreement finalised with the State, that between January 14 and 17, 2024, he unlawfully and intentionally killed Byl by stabbing him and assaulting him with the rock. He killed Byl while committing a robbery with aggravating circumstances. He claimed that he and Byl agreed to have sex at the beach in Saldanha Bay. After they had sex, he decided to rob Byl of his cellphone. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading "The deceased resisted and did not want to hand over the cellphone. He stabbed him all over his body with a knife he had, and the deceased fell to the ground. He took a rock that was close by and beat him with it. He then took his cellphone and ran away. He confirmed that the deceased died because he stabbed the deceased with a knife and assaulted him with a rock. He admitted that although he was under the influence of drugs, he was still able to differentiate between right and wrong and to act in accordance with such appreciation. He further admitted that he at all material times intended to rob and subsequently kill Byl," Ntabazalila said. Arguing for a sentence fitting the crime, the Vredenburg Magistrate's Court's Senior Public Prosecutor said the accused caused the death of another human being, who was only 27 years old at the time of his death. Byl was last seen on January 14, 2024, which led to him being reported missing. His body was found on the beach on January 17, 2024. "This had a traumatic effect on his family and friends. "In mitigation of sentence, the defence argued that substantial and compelling circumstances which justify a sentence other than the prescribed sentence existed," Ntabazalila said. "They were argued that the accused was 18 years old at the time of the offence and thus his youthfulness should be considered. "He had pleaded guilty and exhibited true remorse. His plea of guilty has spared the State the expense and inconvenience of a protracted trial. "The NPA welcomes the sentence and commits to continue prosecuting criminals who commit serious crimes like murder." Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
25 years for man who killed, robbed partner after beach encounter
After having sex on the beach, Snyders attempted to rob the deceased, but when he resisted, Snyders stabbed him. The Vredenburg Regional Court has sentenced 19-year-old Wesley Snyders to 25 years of direct imprisonment for the brutal murder and robbery of 27-year-old Erlilo Byl, after the pair had consensual sexual relations on a Saldanha beach. Snyders confessed to stabbing Byl multiple times and striking him with a rock before stealing his cellphone and fleeing the scene. The court ordered that he must serve at least two-thirds of the sentence before he becomes eligible for parole. Chilling confession According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, the murder occurred between 14 and 17 January 2024. 'Snyders admitted in a plea and sentence agreement that he unlawfully and intentionally killed Byl,' said Ntabazalila. After having sex on the beach, Snyders attempted to rob Byl of his cellphone. When Byl resisted, Snyders attacked him with a knife and bludgeoned him with a rock. 'He confirmed that although he was under the influence of drugs, he could still distinguish right from wrong and intended to rob and kill the deceased,' Ntabazalila said. Byl was last seen on 14 January 2024 and was reported missing. His body was discovered three days later in a severely mutilated state on the Saldanha beach. ALSO READ: Tensions rise again in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial over 'hired gun' remark, evidence tampering claims Justice served The prosecution, led by the Vredenburg Magistrates Court Senior Public Prosecutor, argued that the nature of the crime warranted a severe sentence. 'The accused caused the death of a young man, and the traumatic circumstances of the murder had a lasting impact on the victim's family and community,' the prosecutor stated. The court found that Snyder's age, he was 18 at the time of the crime, and his expression of remorse did not outweigh the seriousness of the offence. ALSO READ: WATCH: Gqeberha duo remain in custody for daylight murder of taxi operator NPA welcomes outcome The NPA welcomed the ruling. 'We remain committed to ensuring that perpetrators of serious crimes, especially those involving violence, are held accountable,' said Ntabazalila. The court also declared Snyders unfit to possess a firearm and instructed that Byl's family be informed of the sentence. NOW READ: Murder accused claims investigating officer holds personal vendetta in Likhona Fose case
IOL News
29-04-2025
- IOL News
Defence questions reliability of key witness in Joshlin Smith case
Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers The defence has argued that key testimony against the three accused in the Joshlin Smith case is riddled with contradictions, calling into question the reliability of the State's main witness, Lourentia Lombaard, who testified under Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Act. Advocate Fanie Harmse, representing Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis (Accused 1), told the Vredenburg Regional Court that Lombaard's various accounts, her confession, Section 204 statement, and oral evidence in chief contradicted each other on several points. 'I submit that the two versions — the 204 statement and the 204 witness's evidence are mutually exclusive. They can't both be true,' said Harmse. Joshlin Smith, a six-year-old girl from Middelpos in Saldanha Bay, was reported missing on February 19, 2024. Her mother, Racquel 'Kelly' Smith (Accused 3), left her in the care of Appollis on that day. Co-accused Steveno van Rhyn (Accused 2) was also allegedly involved in what the State argues was a plan to traffic the child. Lombaard, who initially faced charges herself, turned State's witness. She testified that there had been a discussion about selling Joshlin. However, Harmse highlighted inconsistencies in her timeline: she initially said the conversation occurred on Sunday, but under cross-examination, she admitted it may have been Monday morning. 'That is a material conflict,' said Harmse. Further contradictions included whether Appollis walked with Kelly as she allegedly took Joshlin to a white VW Polo for handover, and whether Kelly had acted alone or in agreement with Appollis. According to Lombaard, when Kelly mentioned her plan to Appollis, he dismissed her, saying he didn't want to hear her 'stories', to which Kelly replied she would do it herself. Harmse argued this showed a lack of common purpose between Accused 1 and Accused 3. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕
