Court Sentences Man To 25 years Imprisonment For Killing His Wife And Stepdaughter

A 63-year-old man, Paul Philipps Prinsloo has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the Pretoria High Court in South Africa for two counts of premeditated m8rder of his 58-year-old wife, Magdalenne Prinsloo and 34-year-old stepdaughter, Ruzanna Prinsloo.
 
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in a statement on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, said the couple, the stepdaughter and a 6-year-old granddaughter were staying together at Kosmo village in Hartbeespoort.
 
On 27 November 2023, Paul was at his home sitting outside the house visited by his friend when an argument ensued between him, his wife and his stepdaughter. Prinsloo then went upstairs to his room, fetched his firearm and shot his stepdaughter, when she fell, he proceeded to shoot the wife. Thereafter, he went to fetch a bible and placed it on top of the wife’s body.
 
After realising that the two were deceased, the friend took the grandchild with him and called the police and told them about the incident. Prinsloo was arrested the same day on the scene and has been in custody since the NPA successfully opposed his release on bail.
 
In court, Paul pleaded guilty to murder and not the premeditated murder of the two, however, the state prosecutor, Advocate Bongani Khoza provided the court with evidence which proved that the m8rders were indeed premeditated.
 
During sentencing proceedings through his legal representation, Paul asked the court to deviate from imposing the prescribed minimum sentence because of his age and ill health.
 
He also asked the court to consider the fact that he has already spent more than a year in custody awaiting finalisation of his matter.
 
However, Advocate Khoza argued for life imprisonment and told the court that Paul only pleaded guilty because the state had overwhelming evidence against him and that he committed serious offences of Gender Based Violence (GBV) which is not only prevalent in this jurisdiction but the country as a whole. He added that the courts need to put a stop to this by imposing an appropriate sentence.
 
When handing down the sentence, Judge Mashudu Munzhelele found that there were substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment because of his age, he showed remorse by offering finances to the grandchild and that he is terminally ill.
 
The NPA welcomed the sentence and emphasised its commitment to fighting the scourge of GBV in the communities.