Justice for Emaan: Emotional scenes as Solomons killers are found guilty
Cape Town - Tears flowed at the Western Cape High Court on Monday as the men accused of murdering seven-year-old Emaan Solomons from Ocean View were finally convicted.
Dramatic scenes played out as convicted killers Eben Basson and Chivargo Fredericks stormed out of the dock as Judge Gayaat Da Silva Salie handed down her judgment.
The two are believed to be members of the Junky Funky Kidz gang in Ocean View and were arrested by the Anti-Gang Unit. They were charged with killing Emaan in front of her home during a shooting on February 25, 2020 during a gang war.
They were slapped with various charges, including murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and charges under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
During the trial it was revealed that Basson and Fredericks were trying to shoot members of a rival gang at the time of the incident.
The duo pleaded not guilty and their legal team informed the court that they will be exercising their right to remain silent.
Addressing the court on Monday Da Silva Salie explained after an inspection in loco at the crime scene, members of the opposing gang known as the Tailor Gang including witnesses took to the stand and explained what they saw on the fatal day.
In her judgment she said the peaceful day was filled with the laughter of children playing in the street and was disrupted with the sound of gun shots.
She summarised the 60 page document and said she considered various aspects of the evidence presented to court and found that the duo were guilty of the murder of Emaan and the attempted murders of four others.
They were also found guilty on firearm related charges but acquitted on the POCA, the Prevention of Organised Crime charges.
The two caused a scene as they stormed out of the dock and the judge questioned why they had left. The judge ruled that the proceedings would commence in their absence and the case was postponed to April 17 for sentencing proceedings.
Dramatic scenes unfolded after the duo returned to the dock while the judge had left the courtroom. They openly hurled abuse at the detectives and the media, and asked that their pictures not to be taken while swearing.
Emotions ran high in the public gallery as a woman identified as the mother of Fredericks was heard mocking the grieving parents of Emaan who were accompanied by Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
Speaking outside court the Mayor said: “I was relieved to witness the High Court deliver a guilty verdict in the trial of the gangsters responsible for the brutal killing of little Emaan.
No amount of jail time can bring back Emaan, but I hope this sends a message to those gangsters in Cape Town who show no respect for human life, let alone the lives of little children.
“I call on the court, to impose the maximum possible sentence for these murderers. The City will make a submission motivating for the court to deliver a sentence that sends a strong message to gangsters.”