This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7741301.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| SA racist killer gets life term | SA racist killer gets life term |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A judge has sentenced a 19-year-old white South African to four life terms in jail for killing four black people in a shooting spree in January. | A judge has sentenced a 19-year-old white South African to four life terms in jail for killing four black people in a shooting spree in January. |
| Those shot dead by Johan Nel included a three-month-old baby and a boy of 10. Witnesses told the court he shouted racist abuse while shooting. | Those shot dead by Johan Nel included a three-month-old baby and a boy of 10. Witnesses told the court he shouted racist abuse while shooting. |
| The killings led to angry protests by thousands of people. | The killings led to angry protests by thousands of people. |
| Correspondents say Nel showed no emotion as he was sentenced. The judge said racism could not be tolerated. | Correspondents say Nel showed no emotion as he was sentenced. The judge said racism could not be tolerated. |
| Police spokesman Lesego Metsi said Judge Ronald Hendricks and the prosecuting lawyer were under police protection after receiving 50 death threats on their mobile phones, the South Africa Press Association reports. | Police spokesman Lesego Metsi said Judge Ronald Hendricks and the prosecuting lawyer were under police protection after receiving 50 death threats on their mobile phones, the South Africa Press Association reports. |
| This sends a strong message that perpetrators of heinous and racist murders will be brought to book and rot in jail The Young Communist League Rainbow nation - dream or reality? | This sends a strong message that perpetrators of heinous and racist murders will be brought to book and rot in jail The Young Communist League Rainbow nation - dream or reality? |
| Superintendent Metsi told South Africa's Times newspaper that all the callers were white who said Judge Hendricks would be killed if he handed down a life sentence. | |
| Earlier psychologist Kobus Truter had rejected claims that Nel was mentally unfit to stand trial and had said he should be sentenced to between 20 and 25 years in prison. | Earlier psychologist Kobus Truter had rejected claims that Nel was mentally unfit to stand trial and had said he should be sentenced to between 20 and 25 years in prison. |
| Mr Truter said Nel, who was 18 at the time of the shooting, believed white people were under attack after his family and friends became the victims of several violent crimes. | Mr Truter said Nel, who was 18 at the time of the shooting, believed white people were under attack after his family and friends became the victims of several violent crimes. |
| The Young Communist League welcomed the sentence for the shooting spree in the Skierlik settlement in a farming area of North West province. | The Young Communist League welcomed the sentence for the shooting spree in the Skierlik settlement in a farming area of North West province. |
| "This sends a strong message that perpetrators of heinous and racist murders will be brought to book and rot in jail," the league said in a statement. | "This sends a strong message that perpetrators of heinous and racist murders will be brought to book and rot in jail," the league said in a statement. |
| Nel was also sentenced to 68 years on 11 counts of attempted murder, five years for holding a firearm and three years for possession of ammunition. |