KILLERS OF THE VEREENINGING LAWYER SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS.

The Pretoria High Court, sitting in Palm Ridge sentenced Bongani Patrick Tau (24) and Andile Mpangeva (23), to 25 years of direct imprisonment each for the murder of the Vereeniging prominent lawyer, Eric Hillary Lyell. This is after judge Tonny Thobane, convicted them of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of an unlawful firearm, possession of unlawful ammunition and defeating the ends of justice.

NPA Regional Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana says at the time of the incident, Tau was employed by the deceased, as a general worker and stayed with him at his home in Three Rivers, Vereeniging where Mpangeya who was friends with Tau used to visit. On 11 January 2019, the two assaulted and killed the deceased with a pick handle. After this, they took his vehicle, cell phone, wristwatch as well as his firearm with ammunition.

She says they covered the deceased body with a plastic bag, drove to the Vaal dam where they dumped it and fled to the Eastern Cape. The deceased was reported missing by his family after they could not reach him on the phone.

In court, they pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them and denied killing the deceased. However, the state was able to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, due to overwhelming evidence against the two.