In a heart-wrenching case of domestic violence, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has sentenced a 63-year-old to 25 years' imprisonment for two counts of premeditated murder of his 58-year-old wife Magdalenne Prinsloo and 34-year-old stepdaughter Ruzanna Prinsloo.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana said Paul Philipps Prinsloo had an argument with his wife before the shooting in November 2023.
Mahanjana said the couple, the stepdaughter, and a six-year-old granddaughter were living together at Kosmo village in Hartbeespoort.
On the day of the shooting, Paul was at his home sitting outside the house visited by his friend when an argument ensued between him, his wife, and stepdaughter.
In a fit of rage, he went to his room, retrieved a firearm, and unleashed a horrific sequence of violence. He first shot his stepdaughter and then turned the gun on his wife.
After witnessing the incident, the friend took the grandchild with him and called the police which subsequently led to Prinsloo's arrest.
Mahanjana said he has been in custody since his arrest after the NPA successfully opposed his release on bail.
"In court, he pleaded guilty to murder not premediated murder of the two, however, the state prosecutor, Advocate Bongani Khoza provided court with evidence which proved that the murders were indeed premeditated. During sentencing proceedings through his legal representation, Paul asked the court to deviate from imposing the prescribed minimum sentence because of his age and ill-health.
"He also asked the court to consider the fact that he has already spent more than a year in custody awaiting finalisation of his matter. However, Advocate Khoza argued for life imprisonment and told the court that Paul only pleaded guilty because the state had overwhelming evidence against him and that he committed serious offences of gender-based violence," explained Mahanjana.
Mahanjana added that during sentencing, Judge Mashudu Munzhelele found that there was substantial and compelling circumstance to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment because of his age.