PARKTOWN - Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela welcomed the hefty sentences handed to Jermaine Davids (36) and Ottie Shimidzu (48) who were found guilty of killing Ms Heather Petersen and injuring her niece in Westbury in 2018. The duo were found guilty of murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and possession of ammunition.

On Friday 10 June 2022, Judge Strydom, sitting at Johannesburg High Court, sentenced Davids to 22 years direct imprisonment and Shimidzu to 17 years direct imprisonment.

Petersen was killed in a shootout between gang members in Westbury in

September 2018. Her 10-year-old niece was shot and injured.

Soon after the shooting incident, members of the Anti-Gang Unit, Tactical Response Team (TRT), Public Order Policing, Crime Intelligence, the Hawks, Visible Policing and an Investigative Task Team were deployed in Westbury/Sophiatown to hunt down the suspects and to stabilise the area. Two suspects were arrested, convicted and now sentenced.

Lieutenant General Mawela applauds the investigation team led by Warrant Officer Vincent Saunders and the Senior State Advocate Zarina Peck who made sure that the accused paid for their evil deeds.

Source: South African Police Service