Update
KNYSNA NEWS - The 2015 Oyster Festival death of Cape Town student Jared Lomas at the corner of Long and Main Streets has finally been concluded as the accused, local resident Philip Bunge, has effectively started serving his sentence of five years.
Appearing before the Knysna Regional Court on Monday 25 June, Bunge appeared dishevelled, unshaven and sported a beard – a stark contrast to the person who was seen at bars and nightclubs in the preceding weeks, drinking and dancing, according to patrons.
But standing in the dock this week, his face told a different story – that of regret, remorse and anxiety.
He clung tightly to his girlfriend just minutes before informing the court of his intention to abandon his application for leave to appeal. As a result, the prosecution concluded their case and he was ordered into the custody of the police.
Some family members were in tears, but according to a legal opinion, abandoning the application for leave to appeal was possibly in their best interests.
“The high court could have found that a harsher sentence was necessary. Not everyone gets away with just five years,” said a lawyer, who asked not to be named.
Lomas was killed following an altercation with Bunge during the Oyster Festival in 2015 when the two men got into an argument. Bunge was in the car at the time and the court found that Bunge had held on to Lomas' collar while driving away, dragging Lomas along in the process until he fell. The bakkie drove over Lomas' head and he died instantly.
Lloyd Lomas, father of Jared, also expressed that many people felt that five years were "really nothing" for taking a life, and that Bunge could in any case be eligible for parole within nine months.
Read previous articles:
- Oyster Festival death: Bunge abandons leave to appeal
- Oyster Festival death: Bunge sentenced
- Oyster Festival death: Closure for family
- Oyster fest death: Bunge found guilty
- Update: Oyster Festival death
- Oyster Festival death: Judgement this week
- Oyster Festival death goes to trial
- Knysna resident on trial for Oyster Festival 'Murder'
- Oyster Festival murder: Court date postponed
- Oyster fest youth's accused killer in court
- Oyster Festival murder: Accused in court
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