Another pathetic plea agreement.

Chanelle Henning was shot dead in front of her son, whilst dropping him off at school, in a hit last year. 


Gerhardus du Plessis, Ambrose Monye, Andre Gouws and Preshan Singh were arrested and are to stand trial for the murder and conspiracy to commit murder. 

Now comes news that Singh is expected to do a typical South African thing and settle into a plea and sentence agreement with the state in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court. The agreement seems that Singh pleads guilty on a 'firearm related charge' and his sentence would amount to a suspended sentence with community service. This is due to this gun runner admitting to furnishing the revolver that killed Chanelle. His powerful argument- that he was unaware that his unlicensed weapon would be involved in a crime. 
Number one, why did he have an unlicensed firearm and number two, how stupid is the state to accept the argument that he did not know it would be involved in a crime. What did he think he was giving it to the other suspects for- to take it to the movies? 

It is beyond worrying that the state is so quick to enter into please agreements. Many high profile cases have revolved around some of the accused getting favourable plea agreements, in exchange for giving evidence to use against a primary target. In many cases the evidence given is weak and the primary target walks away. Surely if you agree to give evidence and fail to give sufficient evidence, the plea agreement should be cancelled. In essence, everybody walks away )- look at the cases involving Glenn Agliotti as well as that of Brett Kebble...all went free, despite those who entered plea agreements not coming to the table with their cards. And nothing is done about it. 

Yet again, we have somebody who possesses an unlicensed firearm, a crime in the first instance and then gives it to somebody else, thinking no crime would be committed. His punishment- nothing really. 


In short, it is looking very good to be a criminal in South Africa.....