The Western Cape High Court sentenced Derick Kalmeyer to two life terms in prison for the horrific murders of Faith (3) and Conray Adams (18 months) on Monday, 24 June.
Kalmeyer (54), a Vredenburg member of the 28s gang, was also known as Slang, and killed the two siblings in their home on 1 May 2019 – an action Judge Pearl Andrews described as ‘the most brutal display of domestic violence’, as reported by IOL.
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According to the State’s case, Kalmeyer was in a relationship with Frizaan, the children’s mother and allegedly got into a heated argument with her and a friend on the night he committed the murders.
Both women allegedly fled the shack ‘out of fear’, leaving the two siblings behind.
It came to light during the trial that Faith was stabbed 19 times, while Conray was stabbed 14 times. In addition, Conray also had skull fractures, which it has been presumed he sustained after being thrown through a glass window.
Kalmeyer pleaded not guilty to his charges of two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of resisting arrest.
This was not Kalmeyer’s first run-in with the law. He had been previously convicted in 1985 for ‘malicious damage to property’ and received lashes as punishment.
After months being on trial, Kalmeyer was found guilty on two counts of murder, one count of assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and one count of resisting arrest.
Kalmeyer’s legal representative, advocate Bash Sibda, argued in court to hand down a 22-year sentence, by which Judge Andrews said she found ‘no compelling circumstances’ for Kalmeyer to not proceed with life sentence.
‘I am not persuaded that the accused can be rehabilitated considering the flimsy excuse for Mr Kalmeyer’s rage,’ said Andrews.
‘This court is intent on sending a strong and clear message to all would-be offenders that the heinous, senseless and brutal murders of our most vulnerable citizens of South Africa – our children – will not be tolerated, and will be met with the full might of the law,’ Andrews added.
Kalmeyer was ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment for each murder, five years for assault and two years for resisting arrest, which brought the sentencing to 57 years. As the sentences will run concurrently, Kalmeyer will serve an effective 25 years.
‘We are very happy with the outcome and the community will be happy. We have been through hell and we cannot tell you what it has been for us. We agree with what the judge said about Derick, we trusted him,’ said Denise Adams, the children’s grandmother.
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