State calls for life for 'Modimolle Monster'

The State urged the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday to impose life sentences on the so-called “Modimolle Monster” Johan Kotze and his co-accused.

“Concerning accused one and two [Kotze and Andries Sithole] they face a life-long sentence due to the rape and murder charges, while three and four [Pieta Mohlake and Sello Mphaka] face a life-long sentence based only on the rape charges,” prosecutor Retha Meintjes said.

Judge Bert Bam found Kotze and Sithole guilty on Monday of killing Kotze’s ex-wife Ina Bonnette’s son Conrad Bonnette, 19.

Their co-accused were acquitted on the murder charge. However each of the four was convicted of kidnapping, and of four charges relating to the rape of Bonnette.

“It is obvious that all four are guilty of it,” said Bam.

In addition, Kotze and his co-accused were found guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Ina Bonnette was attacked and tortured in Kotze’s Modimolle home on January 3, 2012. Her son was shot and killed in the house on the same day.

Arguing in aggravation of sentence on Tuesday Meintjes made reference to a victim impact report on Bonnette and her daughter Angelique. According to the report Bonnette suffered from flashbacks and nightmares after the attack, and her daughter also suffered emotionally.

“Dad and I don’t talk about my brother,” she was quoted as saying in the report.

Meintjes said the accused had shown no signs of remorse.

She said Kotze cried during his testimony because of self-pity.

His co-accused participated for financial gain.

Bam asked if Mohlake and Mphaka deserved a lesser sentence because they were not involved in the planning of the crime.

Meintjes said despite this they were active in attacking Bonnette in the house, therefore they did not deserve a lesser sentence.

“In that sense there is no room [for a lesser sentence].”  The defence for Kotze’s three co-accused argued their clients should serve concurrent sentences. Jan van Rooyen and Francois van As said the crime was one “incident” and should be sentenced as such.

Piet Greyling, for Kotze, in arguing in mitigation of his client’s sentence, pointed to his narcissistic personality disorder, depression, and obsessive behaviour.

“Some of his problems literally come from his childhood,” he told the court.

Greyling said a clinical psychiatrist’s report which found Kotze suffered from these problems should be taken into consideration.

“[The narcissism] influenced his relationship with Mrs Bonnette, also his behaviour towards Mrs Bonnette,” he submitted.

Greyling said Kotze had been obsessed with Bonnette, and was crushed when she rejected him, especially because of his narcissism.

“In other words, he took it much worse.”  Greyling said Kotze had seen this as the end of his life.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that accused one was a manic depressive.” He said Kotze had mentioned a suicide attempt in a diary he kept in the days before his arrest.

Greyling said there were also signs of remorse in the diary.

“The remorse speaks very clear from the diary he kept.”  Bam asked if Kotze had shown remorse in court.

Greyling said Kotze was emotional during his testimony.

“It was truly an emotional testimony.”  He asked the court to take into account that his client had lost everything, and asked for a 15-year sentence.

Bam postponed the matter to Wednesday 11.30am for sentencing.

When asked how he felt after court proceedings on Tuesday, Kotze said he would only fully comment after the sentencing.

“I don’t want to sensationalise it,” he said.