Cape Town - The gunman who took the lives of three children and a teenager in what has been dubbed the 2019 Elsies River massacre, has been sentenced to 113 years’ direct imprisonment by the Western Cape High Court.
Rowan Stuurman was sentenced on Tuesday after being found guilty of four counts of murder, two attempted murders, and possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.
Siblings Toslin, 10, Malcolm Samuels, 12, and cousin Adrian Alexander, 12, were shot in Northmead Court, Clarke Estate, on September 17, 2019. Vineto Africa, 19, who is believed to have been the intended target, was also killed during the shooting spree.
The children’s mothers, Mandy Samuels and Bianca Alexander, were wounded in the incident, while a witness who saw Stuurman flee the premises was shot.
On the night of the shooting, Africa had asked the women for a place to sleep.
It was found that Stuurman, who approached the house in a retaliation plot against Africa, kicked open the door of the wendy house where the family was sleeping, before firing shots at the victims, who were all lying on a couch in the lounge.
Adrian was shot in the neck and Malcolm and Africa in the face.
Stuurman then proceeded to the room where Bianca and Mandy were laying with little Toslin, and again fired shots.
Mandy was injured in the back and thigh and Bianca in the back, while Toslin died at the scene.
The 33 bullet casings found in the house led officers to believe Stuurman emptied two magazines firing on the occupants. This was later corroborated by Bianca, who said she heard shots and then it went quiet.
A few seconds later, she heard more shots, and someone shouting “finish them”.
Two hours after the shooting, detectives of the Anti-Gang Unit, led by Detective Sergeant Bradley Schuurman, arrested Stuurman at a residence in Melton Road.
On Wednesday, the mothers agreed they had still not forgiven Stuurman. Bianca described the sentencing as a bitter-sweet moment.
“I will never forget nor will I forgive, because my child is gone. He had dreams of becoming an engineer, he wanted to help us get out of our situation, but in the same breath I am thankful that justice was served and (Stuurman )got a heavy sentence.”
Mandy thanked Schuurman for his work and continued support over the past five years.
“Today I am happy, I am also thankful the detective walked with us, and never gave up on the case, now I can put this chapter behind me.”
Cape Argus