Ex-Partner Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
18 MARCH 2025
Ex-Partner Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
Cape Town, South Africa, The High Court of South Africa has sentenced murderer, Wayne Lawrence, to an effective life imprisonment for pointing a firearm at his former girlfriend, attempted murder of his daughter and the murder of his former girlfriend. The court convicted Lawrence on charges of assault, two counts of pointing a firearm, reckless endangerment to person or property, two counts of the contravention of the interim protection order, attempted murder, murder and defeating the administration of justice. He was sentenced to three years direct imprisonment for assault, 10 years direct imprisonment for the two counts of pointing a firearm, 5 years direct imprisonment for reckless endangerment to person or property, 10 years direct imprisonment for the contravention of the interim protection order, 15 years direct imprisonment for attempted murder, life imprisonment for murder and three years direct imprisonment for defeating the administration of justice. This brought his total sentence to life imprisonment and 46 years of direct imprisonment. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently effectively sentencing him to life imprisonment.
Senior State Adv Evadne Kortje called 16 witnesses and led evidence which revealed that the accused and the deceased, Angela Marinus, were in a common law relationship from 2009 until October 2017. They had a daughter, Monique Marinus, who was 16 years old at the time of her mother’s death. The accused physically and verbally abused the deceased on numerous occasions during their relationship. She obtained an interim protection order against the accused on 19 October 2017 for her safety and that of her daughter. On 28 November 2017, the accused and the deceased attended the return date on the interim protection order at the Bishop Lavis Magistrates Court. The accused contravened the interim protection order on various occasions with his abusive behaviour. At the time he legally owned two firearms and was also a member of a shooting club.
In October 2017, the deceased and her daughter moved out of the couple’s house in Montan and moved in with her parents in Montevideo. The court also heard that the deceased started an affair with a colleague after ending her relationship with the accused. The State alleged that the accused struggled to accept that the deceased ended their relationship, moved out of their home, moved on, and started a new relationship. This led to constant harassment of the deceased, physical and verbal abuse and he begged her to return.
On 11 October 2017, the accused pointed a firearm at the deceased new boyfriend, and he went to the deceased place of employment the next day where he deprived her of her freedom but kept her in his vehicle. He then drove off with her in the vehicle as she attempted to get out of the vehicle. In November 2017, the accused demanded his daughter phone her mother and instructed, the daughter, to tell her mother that the accused would kill their daughter and then shoot himself should the deceased not return home to their communal home. He then fired two shots in the presence of their daughter to mislead the deceased into believing that he had shot their daughter. On 10 December 2017, the deceased had a family outing in Long Street, Cape Town, and the accused attended the outing. He was aggressive towards the deceased and pointed a firearm at her.
The next day, the accused attempted to contact the deceased, but she ignored her calls and text messages. That evening, the deceased and their daughter arrived at her parents’ house in Montevideo and while they were sitting in the vehicle, the accused approached the vehicle and fired shots at them. The deceased was shot in the face and abdomen. She died at the scene. The daughter was shot in the foot. The accused fled but was arrested two days later, 13 December 2017. Police seized one of his firearms The accused fled but was arrested two days later, 13 December 2017. Police seized one of his firearms, a .45 ACP Taurus pistol and requested him to hand over his second firearm,40 S&W Glock pistol but he failed to disclose the whereabouts of the firearm.
In her arguments, Adv Kortje submitted that the evidence presented by all the material State witnesses was disputed during cross-examination, but they kept to their versions as testified to in chief. Given the domestic violence relationship between the accused and the deceased, the explanation of why she did not report the abuse to the police is highly probable. The evidence of Monique against the accused was damning. The State respectfully submits that the honourable court can accept the evidence of the state’s witnesses as credible and reliable. The court accepted the State’s measured arguments backed by evidence and convicted the accused. It then sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Welcoming the sentence, Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv Nicolette Bell, said the State will continue doing its best in dealing with gender-based violence and femicide. Adv Bell commended the investigation and prosecution team ensuring justice for the victim and her family.
Issued by:
Eric Ntabazalila
National Prosecuting Authority
Regional Communications Manager – Western Cape
Tel: (021) 487 7308
Mobile: 073 062 1222