Three-year-old Liam Nortje’s father was sentenced to life in prison for his murder on Friday – even though the boy’s body was never found.
Nantes Nortjé, 48, was convicted on Wednesday in the Circuit High Court in Harrismith for the murder of Liam, as well as the assault of his ex-wife, Cheinelle, and their two daughters.
The case was moved to Bloemfontein due to power problems in this town, where Judge Corné van Zyl imposed the sentence today.
Liam disappeared without a trace in 2017 after Nortje picked him up at Cheinelle. He said at the time that he had given the boy to people who cannot have children, but refused to disclose any more information.
Despite Cheinelle’s repeated pleas, Nortje continually refused to say where the boy was, or even just proof that he was still alive.
Nortjé still insists Liam is still alive and told his lawyer, Peter van der Merwe, that he is in court and will not appeal. Nortje pleaded not guilty to the charges and did not testify during his trial.
He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder, and three years, nine months and five years, respectively, for the three assault charges.
