The Ghelani family from Louis Trichardt finally saw some justice, with the conviction of a 29-year-old man in connection with the armed robbery and murder of the 60-year-old Mr Yogendra Baboo Ghelani at the family store in Eltivillas almost five years ago.

Mr Ghelani of Khoja’s Modern Store was brutally gunned down and his 84-year-old father, Mr Baboo Mohanlal Ghelani, wounded during the daring daytime armed robbery at the store on September 5, 2005.

Three armed gunmen entered the store, demanding money. Moments later, gunshots rang out, killing Yogendra and wounding his father in the leg. Two of the three suspects got away, but one robber, Dovhani Richard Rapheble, was overpowered inside the store by staff and members of the public. He was soon afterwards arrested by the police.

Following the armed robbery and murder, two other suspects were arrested in connection with the incident. The charges against the other two suspects were, however, later withdrawn by the District Court in Louis Trichardt, due to insufficient evidence.

In the meantime, the case against Raphebele continued. He was finally convicted on five counts, namely armed robbery, murder, attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and the unlawful possession of ammunition by the High Court in Polokwane on April 14. On the count of armed robbery, Raphebele was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, while getting 10 years on the murder charge, 10 years on the charge of attempted murder, three years for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and 12 months for the unlawful possession of ammunition. In total, Raphebele will spend 36 years behind bars.

“At least people now know justice was served. It is, however, not going to bring my dad back,” said Mr Ghelani’s son, Vishal, on Monday this week.

“For my grandfather it was a very emotional trial, having to relive the incident in which he was wounded and his son killed,” Vishal added. According to him, Raphebele showed no remorse throughout the trail and even when he was sentenced.

On a positive note, Vishal had high praise for the police and especially the investigation officer, Warrant Officer Elias Vukeya, of the Makhado SAPS.

“I would like to thank them for their hard work and perseverance in the case,” he said.