There is no reasonable prospect that Willem Olyn, 32, who killed his employer in a fierce shooting on his farm outside Griqua City, will succeed.
It was Judge Mpho Mamosebo’s words this week when she refused Olyn leave to appeal against her verdict and sentence.
Earlier this month, Olyn was sentenced to life in prison in the Kimberley High Court on charges of shooting Willem van der Westhuizen, 35, on Oct. 31, 2017, on the Bonteheuwel farm in a heated altercation with a .22 rifle.
He was also found guilty of attempted murder, three counts of unlawful targeting of a firearm, three of assault, theft, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and negligent driving. He will serve the prison sentences on those charges in tandem with the life sentence.
Mamosebo found that Olyn’s grounds for appeal that the state testimony contained contradictions, Olyn’s account is reasonably true, did not prove to the State that it was a premeditated murder and that the life sentence was inappropriately heavy, did not carry water. She found Olyn’s mere denial of his involvement and that he had an alibi would not stand in an appeal against the overwhelming and credible evidence of the state.
She had earlier found that Olyn, who had shown no remorse and maintained that he was innocent, was like the proverbial bull released in the Spanish streets between people and causing damage everywhere.
He awaited his employer, Van der Westhuizen, outside a braai on the farm with a .22 rifle and, after a fight at Van der Westhuizen’s bakkie, fatally shot him in the head and neck.
The quarrel followed after Van der Westhuizen ordered him to leave the farm because he had caused disagreement among the other workers.
Olyn also fired a shot at three farm workers. He then pointed the gun at a family who had arrived on the farm, and then drove away in Van der Westhuizen’s bakkie.
He was taken to a settlement near Griqua City where he shot Dion Barends, 26, in his genitals. He overturned the bakkie in his reckless pursuit. Then Olyn surrendered himself to the police.
Adv. Kenneth Kgatwe charged. Adv. Vasiliki Patrinos acted on behalf of Legal Aid SA for Olyn.
