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Griekwastad teen in jail for at least 10 years

Kimberley - The teenager who was sentenced to an effective 20 years in prison after being found guilty of killing a Griekwastad family in 2012, is likely to serve at least 10 years in prison, according to a report.

Volksblad on Friday named the teenager as Don Steenkamp, as he turned 18 and is no longer a minor.

Other newspapers and media organisations also named him for the first time.

Steenkamp was found guilty earlier this year of killing his father Deon, 44, his mother Christel, 43, and his sister Marthella, 14, as well as raping Marthella and of defeating the ends of justice by lying to the police.

On Wednesday, Northern Cape Judge President Frans Kgomo sentenced him to 20 years for each murder, 12 years for rape, and four years for defeating the ends of justice. The sentences will run concurrently, so he will spend an effective 20 years in prison.

Parole

An advocate told Volksblad that in terms of the Correctional Services Act, Steenkamp will have to serve at least half of the sentence before he can apply for parole. This does not mean that he will automatically get parole, but that he cannot apply before then.

Factors such as his conduct in prison will also be taken into account.

The president of the Law Society of the Northern Provinces, Dr Llewellyn Curlewis, told Volksblad that he doubted Steenkamp will be considered for early release before he has served at least 15 years of his sentence.

He added that the sentence was very fair, as the judge had taken into account his youth, and was letting the sentences run concurrently.

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