Update
PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The man who gunned down a 65-year-old Plettenberg Bay lodge owner about three years ago was finally sentenced to 38 years behind bars earlier this month.
Jeffrey Pienaar (28) was convicted and sentenced in the Knysna Regional Court on 19 February on counts of burglary, theft, murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and malicious damage to property.
John Barnes, the 66-year-old owner of the Wadrift Eventide Lodge in Wittedrift, was killed during the early hours of 24 July.
His body was discovered by his wife in his bedroom at the lodge.
His dog was also found dead in the room.
His wife, who was not in the same room at the time of the incident, had heard a scuffle at about 04:00 and when she when she went to investigate, found her husband had been shot, according to the police.
Barns was found with several gunshot wounds to his upper body. His dog had also been shot.
Police spokesperson Captain Marlene Pieterse said the investigation detective, Warrant Officer John Nomdoe, recovered the firearm used during the crime, on 28 August 2015, and Pienaar was arrested at his home in Kwanokuthula on 21 September.
“The accused made a confession, where he implicated himself in the commission of the crime,” Pieterse said.
Pienaar appeared in the Knysna Regional Court on 19 February following a lengthy trial, for judgement and sentencing.
“Nomdoe was working around the clock to ensure justice.”
Nomdoe’s commander Lieutenant Lingelwa Cebekhulu commended him for a “job well done”.
Click here for previous articles:
- Killer of Plett lodge owner gets 38 years
- Wittedrift murder accused in court
- Suspect arrested for Plett lodge owner murder
- Plett murder remains a mystery
- Man (66) murdered in Plettenberg Bay
ARTICLE: YOLANDÉ STANDER, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD CORRESPONDENT
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