Update
KNYSNA NEWS - Philip Bunge, who was convicted on a charge of culpable homicide in the Knysna Regional Court earlier this year for the death of Cape Town student Jared Lomas during the Oyster Festival in 2015, was handed a sentence of five years when he appeared in the dock on 11 June for sentencing.
Bunge intends to appeal the sentence and was granted bail of R5 000 until his application for leave to appeal is heard on Monday 25 June. If granted, the appeal will be heard in the Cape Town High Court.
The deceased's father Lloyd Lomas said that although he felt that the five-year sentence was "too lenient", he maintained that he was never pushing for a jail sentence.
"I don't think a jail sentence is always the right thing – in this case maybe community service would have been a better option so that justice may be served," said Lomas, speaking to the Knysna-Plett Herald from his Cape Town home.
In the same breath, Lomas said that many family members were surprised that the sentence was "so lenient" and doubted whether it would make a difference in Bunge's life –based on the fact that Bunge could be eligible for parole within nine months, added Lomas.
"Bunge's girlfriend did approach us and spoke a kind word, but his immediate family still chooses not to speak to us," said Lomas.
"We want to put this behind us now and move on with our lives… I know my son would have wanted us to," he added.
Jared 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 ruled that Bunge held on to Lomas' collar and drove away, dragging Lomas along, until he fell. The bakkie drove over Lomas' head and he died instantly.
Click here for previous articles:
- 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
- Oyster Festival murder: Still no answers
- Oyster Festival murder: Family wants answers
- Oyster Festival murder: Family wants justice
- Update: Man murdered during Oyster Festival
- Update: Tragic Oyster Festival murder
- Oyster Festival murder suspect released
- Man (22) murdered during Oyster Festival
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