The Parow Regional Court has sentenced a Bishop Lavis man to 25 years in prison for the brutal murders of his brother, mother, and aunt during a violent outburst in December 2022.

Cevyn Kemp pleaded guilty to three counts of murder after confessing to killing his 16-year-old brother, Peter, during an argument over his school results.

According to court documents, Kemp confronted Peter at their home in Martin Lane after learning he had failed his exams. When the confrontation turned physical, Kemp picked up a brick used as a doorstop and struck his brother on the head, killing him.

Later that day, Kemp’s mother, Elmoline Kemp, returned from work and became suspicious when she couldn’t find her son. After discovering Peter’s body in his bedroom, she was also attacked and killed with the same brick.

Kemp’s aunt, Shireen Isaacs, arrived shortly after, looking for the two. He initially claimed they had gone out, but when she returned and found the bodies, Kemp panicked again and fatally assaulted her.

The following day, Kemp confided in a friend that “something had happened” to his family.

The friend and her father accompanied him home, where the victims’ bodies were found in the yard. Kemp was arrested on the scene and later charged under the Domestic Violence Act.

Initially, Kemp gave false information to a psychologist, claiming he saw someone else dragging the bodies. However, under questioning, he admitted to fabricating the story and eventually confessed to all three murders.

Prosecutor Earl Edward Koopman had argued for a life sentence, pointing to inconsistencies in Kemp’s account and the brutal nature of the crimes.

However, the court found there were substantial and compelling reasons to deviate from the minimum sentence, citing Kemp’s early guilty plea, remorse, age, and personal circumstances.

Kemp was sentenced to 25 years’ direct imprisonment for each count of murder, with the sentences to run concurrently. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has accepted the court’s ruling.