Cape gang boss lawyers slam ‘unethical testimony’ :Tuesday 23 June 2015. Gang boss George “Geweld” Thomas, who recently got seven life terms, is appealing his conviction and sentencing with 14 accomplices.
(SABC) An application for leave to appeal by defence lawyers in a matter involving gang boss George “Geweld” Thomas has continued in the Western Cape High Court. Thomas, who recently got seven life terms, is appealing his conviction and sentencing with 14 accomplices. Defence Advocate Janos Mihalik says the court relied heavily on the testimony of the state witnesses who were unethical and who lied. He also brought into question the death bed statement of state witness Haywin Strydom who said that he was shot by one of Thomas' men as he was going to testify against them.
Lawyers for Rodney Joubert and Ashwin Charles, who were convicted for killing state witness, Nydene Davids, have argued that the court applied the facts incorrectly and that another court could come to a different conclusion. Sentencing underway for W Cape gang boss :Wednesday 20 May 2015. George "Geweld" Thomas maintained his innocence in court on Tuesday.
(SABC) Sentencing procedures are underway in the trial of convicted gang boss, George "Geweld" Thomas and 16 co-accused in the Western Cape High Court. Accused number five, Derrick Claasen was emotional and wiped away tears as a letter written by his 11 year old daughter was read out in court by her grandmother in mitigation of sentencing. Thomas and the co accused were convicted on multiple charges last week. Claasen has been convicted of murder, attempted murder, the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and gang related crimes. Wendy Eksteen told the court that Claasen’s 11 year-old daughter is on medication and not doing well since his arrest in 2008. Claasen cried as he listened to how his daughter asked that he not be sent away for long as she wants to grow up with him present.
Eksteen was also emotional as she said the family was financially dependent on him and now relied on government grants. 28’s gang leader handed seven life terms:Wednesday 3 June 2015. George " Geweld " Thomas terrorised police and prison officials who out of fear turned a blind eye to his activities.
(SABC) Cape Flats gang boss George "Geweld " Thomas has been sentenced to seven life terms by the Western Cape High Court. They will run concurrently. The 28's gang leader was recently convicted on 53 charges. The charges include murder, attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms, and his co-accused were all found guilty of various charges. The trial has been running since April 2011. Fortuin told the court that Thomas hunted down his murder victims like animals using a hunting rifle. He shot and killed three others using a hunting rifle. State wraps up opposing arguments in Geweld case:Wednesday 24 June 2015. Geaorge "Geweld" Thomas was sentenced to seven life terms for murder, recently.
(SABC) The State wants a harsher sentence for gang boss George "Geweld" Thomas and his accomplices. On Wednesday, the State is finally expected to start its application for leave to appeal against the sentencing and conviction of the Cape Flats gang boss and five accomplices. The State spent most of Tuesday in the Western Cape High Court arguing against leave to appeal applications launched by Thomas and 14 other men. Thomas was sentenced to seven life terms for murder and more than 100 years for other crimes.. State Prosecutor Willie Viljoen spent the day scrutinising most of the 15 applications for leave to appeal. He defended the State's use of a single witness, this after the defence argued that his testimony could not be corroborated. The State is expected to complete its opposing arguments on Thursday before it launches its leave to appeal application.