Maspero weeps at 18-year sentence

KYLE MASPERO wept during his last minutes of freedom before he was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend’s mother.

It is a sentence the court hoped would not break him, but convey a message that murder will not be tolerated, said Western Cape High Court Judge President John Hlophe during sentencing yesterday.

Maspero received 18 years’ imprisonment, of which five would be suspended.

He was convicted for the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Phoenix Racing Cloud Theron’s mother Rosemary Theron in March 2013.

Maspero and Phoenix were arguing with Theron about Phoenix’s younger sister not attending school, and they planned to kill her.

According to Phoenix’s plea and sentence agreement, she apologised to her mother for fighting and hugged her.

Maspero said in his plea agreement that he then approached Theron from behind, put a rope around her neck and strangled her.

Maspero was 17 years old at the time of the murder and living with Phoenix, 19, her nineyear-old sister and Theron.

After Maspero murdered Theron, he buried her body in a shallow grave at Strandfontein Pavilion.

Theron was missing for eight months and Maspero later requested the help of Godfrey Scheepers to move the body, and it was he who told police about the murder.

A glass of water and tissues were brought for Maspero as Judge Hlophe recounted the details of the incident.

Maspero had been out on bail and under correctional supervision for the last two years. Earlier this week, probation officer Jermaine Fredericks testified in aggravation of sentence and said Maspero never apologised for what happened.

But Judge Hlophe considered the findings of a clinical psychologist that he was remorseful.

“It is important to consider the fact that you were 17 at the time. It is not without significance that you have been under correctional supervision for the last two years, so clearly there has been punishment.

“What we cannot ignore is the courts’ responsibility to protect the Western Cape, which has become out of control with crimes involving the murdering of innocent citizens,” the judge told Maspero.

”I hope the sentence will not break you, but send a message that murder will not be tolerated. I hope that when you come out of prison, you will have the opportunity to be a responsible citizen.”

Phoenix reached a plea bargain agreement with the State last year and was sentenced to serve 15 years in jail for her part in the murder of her mother and for misleading the police.

Phoenix’s aunt Michelle Searle spoke outside of court yesterday and said she was not happy with Maspero’s sentence, feeling he should have received a longer sentence. francesca.villette@inl.co.za

@FrancescaJaneV