Speedster jailed for deaths of TV presenter and friend
A MOTORIST convicted of causing the deaths of Top Billing presenter Simba Mhere and his passenger‚ Kady-Shay O’Bryan‚ was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment yesterday.
“The accused on the day embarked on a conduct of extreme proportions. He drove at a speed of 166km/h‚” magistrate David Mahango said as he passed sentence on Preshalin Naidoo in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.
“The families of the deceased have been traumatised‚” he said.
Mhere‚ 26‚ was an up-and-coming television presenter, while O’Bryan‚ 29‚ was the mother of a four-year-old girl.
On January 31 2015‚ Mhere was driving north on William Nicol Drive and was about to take the off-ramp to OR Tambo airport when a car slammed into his vehicle.
His father‚ Joseph‚ who was also in the car‚ survived the crash.
Mahango said road users were tired of reckless drivers and expected the courts to deal with them and protect their rights by imposing appropriate sentences on accused persons.
“The court has a duty to impose a sentence that will deter the accused and other drivers.”
Mahango said Naidoo had been convicted of serious offences.
Naidoo’s mother broke down as sentence was passed.
Naidoo’s counsel‚ Advocate Francois Roetz‚ informed the court that his client would apply for leave to appeal against both the conviction and sentence.
Naidoo will be kept in custody pending his application for leave to appeal today.
Earlier in the day‚ Roetz argued that Naidoo was not a danger to society and did not deserve to go to jail.
“He poses no danger to anyone. He is economically active. He works and contributes to the fiscus‚” Roetz said.
Prosecutor Dinesh Nandkissor argued that Naidoo had failed to take the opportunity to apologise to both victims’ families. “At no stage did he take steps to the witness box and say ‘I’m sorry’. He could have taken the responsibility upon himself to say he is sorry.”
Nandkissor said imposing a correctional supervision sentence would send the wrong message to the public.
Yesterday morning‚ the prosecution read out victim impact statements from Mhere’s sister Valerie and his father.
“I was robbed. Simba was sitting next to me and the next minute he was gone. Simba and Kady were chatting and laughing and they were taken away‚” Joseph Mhere said.
The Mhere and O’Bryan families welcomed the sentence.
“I think it’s appropriate. It won’t bring life back‚ but it sends a message to road users to take responsibility‚” Joseph Mhere said.
O’Bryan’s brother‚ Duane‚ said: “The sentence is appropriate. It is not going to bring Kady and Simba back‚ but I am confident that justice has been served today.”