A North West family feels let down by the country’s judicial system after a 19-year-old was sentenced to three years of house arrest and community service following a joyride in his father’s fancy BMW X5 that killed his grandfather.
Jackie Jewell, the deceased’s daughter, considered the punishment was inappropriate for the crime.
In 2021, 16-year-old Kgaugelo Masenya drove his father’s automobile. The juvenile driver’s father is a captain in the VIP Protection Unit.
According to HowSouth, Patrick Jewell, 65, was carrying water bottles into his Hyundai i10 while standing outside his home. He was on his way to water the flowers by his wife’s grave.
Surveillance footage shows a white BMW X5 rushing around a turn before losing control and crashing with the small car where Jewell was standing.
Jewell was seriously injured and taken to a hospital, where he died 20 days later.
Masenya faced charges of driving without a license and culpable homicide.
Masenya, now 19, pled guilty to the charges in May, and the Brits Magistrate’s Court sentenced him to three years of correctional supervision (house detention) this week. He is also compelled to do 16 hours of community service per month at Polokwane Provincial Hospital.
“Eventually, after three years, he received his sentence. Even though I still don’t think it’s enough, the court system says this is what he deserves,” Jackie remarked.
She also thanked AfriForum for its support in expediting the investigation.
According to Barry Bateman, spokesperson for the AfriForum Private Prosecution Unit, delays in finalising cases prolong the agony endured by victims and loved ones.
“While we are glad that Jacky may finally put this procedure behind her, the three-year wait has caused her and her family more anguish. It would not have gotten this far without the assistance of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit. The delay in resolving the case also has an influence on the accused, and we endorse Jacky’s desire that the punishment serves as a lesson to Masenya and that he grows up to be a role model for others,” he stated.