The sentencing of Daniel Smit, convicted of the murder of 13-year-old Jerobejin van Wyk, resumed this Tuesday in the Western Cape High Court.
Story Summary
- Daniel Smit was found guilty of premeditated murder and related charges in the 2022 death of Jerobejin van Wyk.
- The sentencing phase resumed in the Western Cape High Court, with emotional testimonies highlighting Smit’s past and the community’s response.
- Chair of the police committee, Ian Cameron, has called for a strong legal response to discourage vigilantism.
Daniel Smit sentencing resumes on Tuesday
Smit was found guilty on charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, corpse violation, and defeating the ends of justice, in a case that has captured national attention for its shocking brutality.
Judge Hayley Slingers, presiding over the Vredendal court proceedings, found that Smit’s actions reflected an intent to kill, noting that the evidence presented painted a clear picture of premeditated violence.
The verdict followed Smit’s initial guilty plea to four charges, which the State partially rejected because Smit did not admit to an attempted murder charge related to accusations of running over Van Wyk with his car.
The sentencing phase brought further emotional moments, as the court heard from a defence psychologist, Dr Casper van Zyl.
Van Zyl’s testimony provided insight into Smit’s background, describing him as a troubled individual who reportedly dabbled in occult practices from a young age, which may have impacted his psychological state.
According to Van Zyl, Smit claimed he had been involved in “black magic” and satanism since age 13.
Van Zyl suggested that these influences may have contributed to Smit’s disturbing actions, although he refrained from making definitive links between Smit’s beliefs and his actions.
What Daniel did to Jerobejin van Wyk
The case against Smit stems from the tragic events of February 2022, when Smit accused young Van Wyk and a friend of stealing fruit from his property in the small town of Klawer, Western Cape.
According to the State, Smit pursued Van Wyk, capturing and murdering him in an incident that stunned the local community.
Following Van Wyk’s disappearance, a police investigation led to Smit’s property, where human remains were found in sewage pipes, implicating Smit in the boy’s death.
The trial and subsequent investigation revealed horrific details, including the possibility that Smit attempted to conceal his crime by destroying evidence.