On Friday the 13th of May 2016 at 18:45, the tragic murder of Mr Friedel Filter occurred. Friedel was born on Friday, 03 February in 1939 making his Life Timeline 77 years 3 months and 10 days.
This occurred on his farm ‘Frischgewagt’, north of Luneburg, KwaZulu Natal after someone did reconnaissance for what must have been a long time since the grass outside the entry path where they cut the fence to gain entry to the homestead was flattened. The gang lay in wait outside the fence and then crept closer and kept watch.
Friedel’s daughter and her husband had arrived from Johannesburg shortly before the attack to visit for the weekend. Two assailants entered the home through the door of the verandah on that evening of the 13th, as it was not locked.
Inside the home, in the sitting room, the family had made a high care bed for Friedel’s wife who had had a back operation about a week prior and was bedridden.
The assailants entered the house and one went straight through to the kitchen. Friedel’s daughter who was unarmed screamed and then started fighting them manoeuvring right out of the house over the verandah and onto the lawn.
Friedel locked the door but was surprised to find that one of the assailants was still inside the house and now could not leave. A struggle ensued at the door where Friedel pushed the assailants into a corner, and it was at this point that the assailant cocked the weapon and shot Friedel.
The glass of the front door was broken. Friedel’s son in law knelt down to try and assess Friedel when one of the gang members pointed the gun at him through the door. Thankfully the assailant had a loose cartridge stuck on the side of the slide when he cocked his gun, and it is believed that it must have jammed and thus could not fire. One cartridge was found in front of the door from the verandah.
The assailants fled without taking anything but were confronted by the tractor driver “George” Dlongolo who came back from the soccer field with a friend. George asked them who they were and what they wanted as he did not know them. He also accused them of being the ones stealing livestock. He was then shot through the leg, after which he fell. One of the assailants then kicked him, taking his cell phone.
The autopsy showed that Friedel was shot in the shoulder with the projectile going through his heart and other vitals.
Friedel Filter Victimology
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77 Years, 3 Months, 10 Days, 9 Hours, 45 Minutes From Birth to time of incident
Two assailants entered the ‘Frischgewagt’ farm home through the door of the verandah and one went straight through to the kitchen. Friedel’s daughter who was unarmed screamed and then started fighting him, manoeuvring right out of the house over the verandah and onto the lawn.
Friedel locked the door but was surprised to find that one of the assailants was still inside the house and was now trapped. A struggle ensued at the door where Friedel pushed the assailants into a corner, and it was at this point that the assailant cocked the weapon and shot Friedel.
As Friedel’s son in law knelt down to try and assess Friedel, one of the gang members pointed the gun at him through the door. Thankfully the assailant had a loose cartridge stuck on the side of the slide when he cocked his gun, and it is believed that it must have jammed and thus could not fire.
The assailants fled without taking anything but were confronted by the tractor driver “George” Dlongolo who was subsequently shot through the leg, and kicked him.
30 May `16, Mon - 09:00
Arrests
16 Days, 14 Hours, 15 Minutes From Incident Till Arrest
Arrests: The arrests came after Captain Attie Engelbrecht tracked down the supecst and arrested Sthembiso Domoyi Shoba (27) Sabelo Abel Shoba (27) and Bheki Simelane (27), *all ages shown were at the time of the crime.
30 May `16, Mon - 09:00
Trial
0 Days, 1 Hour, 0 Minutes From Arrest Till Trial
Trial: The accused appear in the Paulpietersburg Magistrates Court.
Sthembiso Domoyi Shoba – Aged 27 at the time of the crime (27th June 1988)
Sabelo Abel Shoba – Aged 27 at the time of the crime (29th January 1989)
Bheki Simelane – Aged 27 at the time of the crime (12th June 1988). He turned to become a Section 204 State Witness.
30 May `16, Mon - 11:00
Trial – Bail Hearing
0 Days, 1 Hour, 0 Minutes From Trial to Bail Hearing
Trial – Bail Hearing: A bail hearing held in Paulpietersburg spanned roughly 3 to 4 days. A large number of farmers and farmworkers attended to show their support. Bail was denied.
2018
27 November `18, Tue - 09:00
Trial
2 Years, 5 Months, 28 Days, 22 Hours, 0 Minutes From Bail Hearing till Second Trial
Trial: The court process took a total of 2 years, 5 months, 28 days (911 days)
The case was postponed repeatedly between Newcastle and Vryheid with many setbacks in between, ranging from a State Prosecutor not arriving for court and a new Advocate being requested, to the Department of Justice having made errors on the charges and these having to be fixed before the trial started so that both the defence and the state would have not basis for disagreements.
Finally, after nearly 900 days, the trial began on the 27th November 2018 and spanned a period of 2 years, 5 months and 28 days (911 days) and concluded with the convictions of two accused, with the third turning state witness.
27 November `18, Tue - 10:00
Convictions
0 Days, 1 Hour, 0 Minutes From Previous Trail till Convictions
Convictions: Accused number one, Sthembiso Domoyi Shoba, was sentenced to life imprisonment on one charge of murder, 10 years for attempted murder and 15 years for the charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Accused number two, Sabelo Abel Shoba, was sentenced to life imprisonment on one charge of murder, and a 15 year combined sentence for attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
2020
18 August `20, Tue - 09:00
SVS Activated
4 Years, 3 Months, 4 Days, 14 Hours, 15 Minutes From Incident till SVS Activation
Incident: After a meeting was held to review the farm murders of KZN, a decision was taken to activate SVS for Friedel. The role-players include SAPS, the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, Police Ministry, National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa (NPA), Correctional Services, Together SA CAN (NPO) and Violent Crimes and Technology Support (NPO).
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