Ruan Van Heerden sentenced for stabbing his parents multiple times

Ruan Van Heerden has been sentenced to 25 years direct imprisonment by the Pretoria Regional Court for killing his mother when he stabbed him multiple times. 

The 20-year-old son pleaded guilty, and was convicted of murder, attempted murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.  

RUAN VAN HEERDEN SENTENCED FOR KILLING HIS MOTHER 

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), on 09 January 2020, his mother reprimanded him for stealing R200 from his father’s wallet. 

Later that evening, the mother was sitting in the living room and her husband, Barney Van Heerden went to sleep.

Van Heerden returned home with his friend Colson Williams Phelph. He took a knife from the kitchen and stabbed his mother, while his friend Phelph went to the bedroom where Barney was sleeping and assaulted him with a golf club. 

After Ruan stabbed his mother multiple times, he proceeded to his father’s room where he stabbed him also.

NPA Regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said before the two left the scene, they stole his parent’s belongings. This includes  amongst other things, a Vehicle Nissan NP200, a CCTV recording device, a wallet, a cell phone, and 6 boxes of cigarettes. 

“The mother passed on 31 October 2021, as a result of the incident.  The two were arrested in January 2020, Phelph requested to be sent to Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital for mental observation.  However, Psychiatric results revealed that Phelph is fit to stand trial, therefore his trial will start on 10 June 2022.” 

Lumka Mahanjana

In his Victim Impact Statement (VIM), Barney (Van Heerden’s father) said he is severely traumatised by the incident and receives treatment for depression and anxiety. 

Before his wife passed, he had to take care of her, with no knowledge of nursing a fragile patient. He further said this incident has now left him a widower and childless.

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