The Western Cape High Court has sentenced the teenager convicted of the murder of 16-year-old Deveney Nel to an effective 25 years behind bars, which is the maximum sentence the accused could receive under the law.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the teen, through his legal representative, approached the State with an offer to enter into a plea and sentence agreement. He reportedly confessed to the murder of Deveney, an attempt to hide her body.
NPA Western Cape spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, says he was sentenced to 25 years’ direct imprisonment for the murder and 12 months’ direct imprisonment for the attempt to defeat the course of justice.
The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, effectively sentencing him to 25 years’ direct imprisonment.
“Both her mother, Lida Nel and the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Louw, were consulted before the sentence agreement was concluded, and they agreed with the sentence.” added Ntabazalila
In his plea and sentence agreement, the 18-year-old accused told the court that on the day of her murder, 07 August 2024, he was on first aid duties at his school during a sports event.
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT CAN BE UPSETTING TO SENSITIVE READERS
The court heard that around 15:45, he asked her if she would assist at the netball courts, and she agreed. He accompanied her. He claims they became intimate in the school’s storeroom, and she told him after that she had cheated on her new boyfriend with him.
He did not know she had a boyfriend, and this made him upset. He throttled her, and she became weak and fell to the ground. He took out a knife he had in his jacket pocket and stabbed her in the neck and chest.
When he was done, she showed no signs of life, as he had checked her pulse. He decided to hide her body in the back part of the storeroom and pulled her body along the floor. He then took her cellphone as he returned to his first aid duties and put it in the back of a bakkie that was parked in the parking lot. He did this to mislead the people and the police, as he knew people would be looking for her soon. He intended to divert any investigation away from him.
Following the incident, a search for Deveney ensued. Her cellphone was recovered and handed over to the police, and her body was later found in the storeroom where he had left it. The teenager only told the police about what happened a few days later.
State Adv Leon Snyman says the accused has been sentenced in accordance with the applicable legal framework.
“I am pleased that we have finalised this matter and hope that this sentence provides some closure for Deveney’s mother and her family. Gender-based violence and femicide have no place in our society, and it is for this reason that my office will continue to vigorously prosecute such cases to ensure justice for victims,” added State Adv Snyman
Meanwhile, Deveney’s mother, Linda Ne, says the actions of the accused have forever changed her life.
“Parents are supposed to grow old and see their children blossom and grow and become successful and responsible children and adults. – Parents are not supposed to outlive their children. My daughter would have cared for me when I could no longer do so,” said Nel
READ MORE: 17 year old boy arrested for murder of Deveney Nel
