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IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
(WESTERN CAPE DIVISION, CAPE TOWN)

Case number: CC74/2021

In the matter between:

THE STATE

versus

B[...] C[…] W[...] Accused 1

REAGAN DAVIDS Accused 2
________________________________________________________________ ____

Coram : Da Silva Salie, J
Written Judgment delivered : 19 June 2025
Counsel for the State : Adv. Evadne Kortje
Counsel for Accused 1 : Adv. Arnold Nel
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Counsel for Accused 2 : Adv Omar Arend



JUDGMENT DELIVERED ON THURSDAY, 19 JUNE 2025


DA SILVA SALIE, J

[1] Mr Reagan Davids, presently 35 years old, stands before this Court for the
imposition of appropriate sentences in respect of the 5 counts of which he had been
convicted , that being : housebreaking with intent to commit murder , robbery with
aggravating circumstances, attempted murder (x2), and murder.

[2] These crimes were committed in the early hours of 31 January 2020 in concert
with accused 1, the son in law of the Mr and Mr s D[...] and husband of their daughter,
Ms. I[...] D[...] (Ms. I[...]) as well as another unknown male person. Mr B[...] W[...] , the
son in law of the D[...] couple and husband of Ms. I[...] passed away during this trial. He
did not dispute that he had hired hitmen to invade the home on the day in question . He
confirmed that he was the driver of his bakkie captured on the CCTV footag e in and
around the area where he dropp ed off and pick ed up the two assailants in the early
hours of the morning around the residence where the fateful events took place. They
acted in a premeditated and coordinated manner , invading the home and targetin g the
elderly D[...] couple.

[3] The facts reveal that the accused, Mr David s, and the second intruder entered
the home during the early morning Muslim sunrise prayer, fully aware the couple would
be engaged in worship with their sliding door routinely opened. The fatal attack on Mr .
D[...] (aged 75) resulted in nine deep pe rforating stab wounds to his upper body. Mrs
D[...] , aged 70, was violently assaulted wit h a firearm whilst praying, suffering various
injuries, including a fractured sternum and head injuries. Their daughter , Ms . I[...],
narrowly escaped death by slamming the sliding door to the main house and stopping
the accused from murdering her. Behind her were her minor children coming from their
bedroom in frantic search for their mother.

[4] These offences are marked by exceptional brutality, targeting vulnerable elderly
victims in a sanctified setting. The level of violence, disregard for human life, and the
psychological terror inflicted upon the surviving victims and so too the surrounding
community , warrant the imposition of a long period of direct imprisonment. In
addressing me on whether an appropriate sentence ought to deviate from the
prescribed period of life imprisonment or sentencing the accused to life sentences in
respect of the murder of Mr. D[...] and the attempted murder of his wife, Mrs. D[...] ,
submissions were made to Court by both counsel for the accused and the S tate and
ventilated in full during the pre -sentencing proceedings. I proceed to deal with those
arguments succinctly hereafter and discuss the s ubmissions so made.

Submissions in mitigation of sentence:

[5] Counsel for Mr . Davids pointed out that the accused had experienced childhood
trauma, having been ra ised without a father, exposed to a violent and abusing
stepfather and at 13 was in a motor vehicle accident where all his co -passengers and
friends had been fatally injured . These combined traumas were argued to have had an
indelible effect on his life. It was also argued that although his mother was a strong and
stable figure in his life, she died when he was still a young adult leaving him to take care
of his younger brother, now an adult.

[6] It was a prominent feature of counsel 's submissions that the accused would be
able to rehabilitate himself in prison and when he seeks parole, the family of the
deceased and affected victims would have an opportunity to make input. In my view, the
submission by counsel as to what could happen at a parole hearing in the distant future
is somewhat problematic , particularly as it was accepted for the accused that a long
period of direct imprisonment is clearly justified . The emphasis that the accused could
be rehabilitated by the time he applies for parole and that the deceased family could
object to his release on parole is so premature and based on a hypothesis , that not
much can be made of it in my present consideration of an appropriate sentence.

[7] In any event, w hilst as a sentencing Court, I must be mindful of the objectives of
sentencing, that being, deterrence, prevention, retribution and rehabilitation, t he
rehabilitation objective of the accused recedes into the background when dealing with
such serious offences as it includes offences which attracts a prescribed sentence of
life.

[8] Notably, the accused had not at any stage during the pre -sentencing
proceedings or during his interview for the pre-sentencing report compiled by Ms. Frans
expressed remorse or contrition for his actions . He continues to profess his innocence.
Whilst the absence of contrition does not amount to an aggravating factor and in respect
of which this Court could impose a harsher sentence, it is so though that had the
accused expressed true remorse for his unlawful actions and the suffering caused, it
would have been considered as a factor in mitigation. Mr . Davids had, however, not
availed himself of that opportunity, refusing accountability for these unlawful actions ,
rendering it hard to even predic ate or consider his reformation prospects.

[9] During the trial he testified that he has no children. However, in his interview with
Ms Frans he claims to have a minor child who requires his care and financial support in
her upbringing. It is upon the tenacity of Ms Frans to provide this Court with a duly
considered and reliable pre-sentencing report , that she followed up with her interview
with the accused with a thorough search for the minor child and her biological m other as
claimed by the accused . She contacted the schools in the area, attended at the address
provided by the accused as well as the workplace of the alleged biological mother . She
could not find from her investigations that such a minor child and mothe r exists.

[10] Counsel for the accused did not use the opportunity during argument or when he
called Ms Frans as a witness to challenge or correct her findings in her report on this
issue . In the premise, I accept (without anything from the accused to gainsay her
report) that he was lying in that regard to compel this Court to consider a reduced
sentence.

[11] The Court also noted during the pre -sentencing proceedings and w ith the
members of the deceased in full view expressing their distress caused b y the violent
murder and loss of their father and husband, the accused continuously yawn ed loudly. I
enquired from him if he could follow the proceedings given his repeated loud yawnings
and as to his state of health . He replied to the enquiry that he was fine and all in order.
The conduct of the accused during the incident and his manner during these
proceedings is indi cative that the accused has no respect for human life , dignity and
conscience.

Submissions in aggravation of sentence:

[12] In aggravation of sentence, counsel for the State argued that the murder was
committed with direct intent, excessive force, and i n the context of a housebreaking and
robbery with the conspiracy to commit murder at the behest of the son -in-law as a
“contract killing”. The proceeds of the crime , some R1000, were used to acquire a pair
of sneakers for the accused, Mr Davids.

[13] The attempted murder of Mrs D[...] involved sadistic violence against a
vulnerable and elderly woman at peace during a prayer in the bedroom of her home.

[14] The daughter , Ms. I[...] D[...] narrowly escaped death, whilst her minor children
would no doubt be forever plagued by the sounds as their grandfather was being slain
to death in the adjacent room, their grandmother badly injured and their own mother
fighting to protect them. Th ey saw their grandmother engaging with the attending police
at their front door , visibly shocked, injured and bleeding. Both children got sick as the
events unfolded , hiding in the bedroom during the gruesome attack whilst their mother
sought help by cellphone not only from family members and police but also their own
father, who was in fact the person who hired the two intruders.

Discussion:

[15] The proverbial saying that fact is stranger than fiction is a startling and disturbing
feature of the events which took place in the early morning hours of Friday, 31 January
2020 and at the home of the victims . This Court is mindful of the horrors which would
have gone through the young minds of the two minor children and the gruesome events
which will forever be etched in their memories .

[16] The plot to murder the parents in law of (the now deceased) accused 1 and the
attempted murder of Ms I[...] is yet another act of domestic violence and gender -based
crime. South Africa has been recorded as having one of the highest rates of domestic
violence in the world. The convictions in this matter touch on so many d isturbing and
prevailing features of crime in our society : domestic violence, gender -based violence
and murders, exposure of children to violence and harm, violence and murder of elderly
people to mention a few.

[17] The victims’ family, particularly Mrs . D[...] and Ms. I[...], continue to suffer acute
trauma caused by this violent home invasion and death . The family and the community
have lost a true gentleman, a carer and a man who uplifted his community and those
who needed help. The daughter of the deceased and Mrs . D[...] , Ms. W[...] A[...],
testified as to the kind nature of her father and the pillar of strength he was to his family
and community. A man of faith , strong mora ls and devoted to the care of his family and
grandchildren. He was ripped away in a most brutal and cruel manner. Mrs. D[...] was
violently beaten, aged 70 and attacked from behind in her bedroom whilst performing
prayers . She was defenceless. As she f ell to the ground she hailed to God for help and
with her prayer scarf falling over her face, she pretended to be dead. Notwithstanding
being severely injured, she l ay quietly until the intruders left. She was hospitalized for
her injuries, waking up to a grieving family and the realization th at her last moments of
her husband and best friend of 50 years captured him lying dead in a pool of blood.
Given her injuries and hospitalization, she was unable t o attend h er husband’s burial
according to Islamic Rites later that day.

[18] The accused has a prior criminal record including robbery, assault, and drug
trafficking. He stands before this Court not as a first offender and has a clear propensity
to commi t crimes of violence. I need to add that the period of 5 years during which the
accused had been awaiting trial is not a factor which on its own in these circumstances
be considered as a basis to justify departure of the prescribed sentences. To do so
would amount to departing for a flimsy reason and amount to an unjust sentence . On
the totality of the evidence before me, I cannot find any factors before me which can be
considered substantial and compelling which would otherwise have warrant ed a
departure of the prescribed sentences. (See S v Malgas 2001 SACR (1) 469 (SCA) )

Legal Framework :

[19] Section 51(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997 prescribes life
imprisonment for the murder of Mr. D[...] .

[20] The Court is also empowered to impose life imprisonment for attempted murder
under its inherent jurisdiction. Given the gratuitous nature of the violence with which
Mrs. D[...] was attacked , moreover that she is vulnerable and a n elder as defined in the
Older Persons Act, she was also in the sacred space of her own home, defenceless and
practicing her religion, the imposition of life imprisonment is justified and appropriate.

[21] In the oft quoted decision S v Zinn 1969(2) SA 537 (A) , the Court established
the principle that while considering an appropriate sentence/s three key aspects must
be considered: the personal circumstances of the accused, the nature and seriousness
of the crime/s and the interests of society. Each consideration must be given
appropriate weight given the totality of the matter in concluding a just and equitable
sentence so that the punishment fits both the crime and the criminal.

[22] For the reasons set out above, and taking into account all the relevant facts
which have been placed before me in determining an appropriate and just punishment , I
sentence Mr. Reagan Davids, the accused before this Court , as follows:

Sentence :

[i] Count 1 – Housebreaking with intent to commit murder : 15 years’
imprisonment

[ii] Count 2 – Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 15 years’
imprisonment

[iii] Count 3 – Attempted murder of Mrs D[...] : Life imprisonment

[iv] Count 4 – Attempted murder of I[...] D[...] : 10 years’ imprisonment

[v] Count 5 – Murder of Mr D[...] : Life imprisonment

[vi] Sentences on Counts 1, 2, and 4 will run concurrently. By operation of
law, ex lege, the sentences will run concurrently with the two life sentences. The
effective sentence is thus:

Two life sentences plus 15 years imprisonment

[23] The accused is declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of section 103 (1) of
the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.


________________ _________
DA SILVA SALIE , J
JUDGE OF THE HIGH COURT
WESTERN CAPE