Philip April Allison Plaatjies

Philip April was sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2019 murder of his ex-girlfriend Allison Plaatjie. Images: Supplied.

Justice Served: Philip April gets life for premeditated murder of Allison Plaatjies

April initially pleaded guilty to murder. The State rejected his watered-down version of events and proved he planned to murder his ex-girlfriend in 2019.

Philip April Allison Plaatjies

Philip April was sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2019 murder of his ex-girlfriend Allison Plaatjie. Images: Supplied.

The Cape Town High Court sentenced Philip April to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of his ex-girlfriend, Allison Plaatjies, on Tuesday, 31 January. The sentencing came after the accused initially pleaded guilty to the teacher’s murder. The State rejected his plea.

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PHILIP APRIL SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT

Advocate Rene Uys rejected April’s plea in 2022 as she felt he had omitted crucial evidence in his version of events. He also denied stealing the victim’s vehicle.

“In his guilty plea, he told the court that they were romantically involved and that on the evening of 26 October 2019, the deceased arrived at his friend’s place, where they were watching rugby and drinking.

“He claimed the deceased persuaded him to go with her to her flat, as she had brought him something to eat. He further claimed that she was not happy with him consuming alcohol, and she told him that she was going out with her friends.

“He asked her why she took him away from his friend when she knew that she would be going out with her friends. He claimed that the argument got more serious, and he grabbed her by her throat and choked her,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila.

April claimed he went to the kitchen, picked up a knife and stabbed Plaatjies. The blade broke, and he picked up another one in the kitchen before slitting her throat.

He left the flat and slept at his mother’s place before going on a two-day drinking spree with his friends while driving Plaatjies’ vehicle.

“They drove to Graafwater, Citrusdal until he was arrested on 27 October 2019, on their way to Clanwilliam after he was informed that police were looking for him. He confessed to the murder on 28 October 2019,” said Ntabazalila.

ADVOCATE REJECTS APRIL’S PLEA AND SETS OUT TO PROVE INTENT

Uys rejected April’s plea as a watered-down version of events, and the State set out to prove that he intended to kill the at least two days before the fateful night of 26 October 2019.

“The former couple exchanged WhatsApp messages on 24 and 25 April 2019, where the deceased emphasised that they were no longer together and that he must stop acting like they were still together,” said the NPA.

The State also called five witnesses who testified that April and Plaatjies split up two weeks before the murder, but he refused to accept it.

The witnesses described April as an abusive, possessive and controlling partner. He told the deceased that if he could not have her, no one would.

“The court heard that although they were separated, he asked to see her on 25 April 2019 but she refused. He showed up at her work, Cederberg Primary School, the next morning, bringing her lunch and requesting her keys to her flat under the pretence that he wanted to do her washing.

“The State proved that they had an argument outside his friend’s place that evening of 26 April 2019 and drove together to her flat. He beat her up while sitting on top of her, went to the kitchen to fetch a knife, stabbed her and it broke, fetched another one and slit her throat. He also bit parts of her face while she was still alive,” said Ntabazalila.

Allison Plaatjies alleged killer back in court
[FILE] Allison Plaatjies and Philip April. Image: Faceook/AllisonPlaatjies

A pathologist, Dr Linda Liebenberg, who conducted Plaatjies’ autopsy, testified that the bites were the most painful injuries she sustained due to the sensitivity of the facial tissue.

Liebenberg further testified that the accused had injuries to her face, back, neck and hands, which indicated that she fought back.

PRAISE FOR PROSECUTION AND INVESTIGATION TEAM

Advocate Uys emphasised that April mentioned none of the injuries described by the pathologist in his plea and that he made sure he would be alone with Plaatjies on 26 October 2019.

“The State submits the accused planned and exhausted every avenue to be alone with the deceased, for him to fulfil his threat of killing her. Furthermore, the State submits the fact that the accused had promised to kill the deceased on numerous occasions prior also points to a level of commitment on the part of the accused to fulfil his goal of killing her should their relationship end,” said Uys.

Judge Ralarala agreed with the State and sentenced the accused to life imprisonment with an additional five years for the premeditated murder of Allison Plaatjies and the theft of her vehicle.

Advocate Nicolette Bell, the Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, praised Uys and the investigation for their relentless pursuit of justice for Plaatjies, her mother, and the community of Clanwilliam. The Western Cape Police Management lauded Detective Warrant Officer Jannie Goeieman for his “outstanding investigation.”

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