‘I was there when Luke was born and when he died’

LUKE Tibbetts’s uncle Lewellyn Valentine said yesterday it was time for the family to start recovering now that the 3-year-old’s killer had been sentenced.

“I think it’s time for us now to pick up the pieces and start living again as a family,” he said at the High Court in Joburg, sitting in Palm Ridge.

“We put our trust in the justice system, and justice has prevailed... (but) no sentence will bring Luke back.”

Lindray Khakhu, 22, was earlier sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Luke. He was shot in the head in Steytler Street, Westbury, Joburg, on August 2. He was sitting on his mother’s lap in a car as Khakhu shot at Keenan Mokwena, who was driving away in another car. Mokwena was wounded. Luke died in hospital six days later. Valentine said he still had to let Luke’s mother, Candice, know about the sentence.

“Three months after his death, Candice was hospitalised with deep depression. She’s been in and out since then. It’s been taxing emotionally on us.”

During proceedings Valentine frequently broke down and had to be comforted by friends.

“I was there when Luke was born, again when he died, and I represented him in the court today. It was too much.”

Westbury resident Shahiem Ismail attended proceedings wearing a T-shirt bearing photos of Luke and printed with the words “RIP Luke Llewellyn Tibbetts”.

“Luke Tibbetts has drawn my heart because I’m a close family friend. I was in hospital when he gave his last breath.

Khakhu was also found guilty of killing Alton Mooi in June 2013. His mother Salome said she was too emotional to speak to reporters.

Judge Matthew Klein sentenced Khakhu to two life sentences for the murders of Luke and Mooi. – Sapa