Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
22 September 2025
Gerharndus Reghard Elmes (20), who worked for a local security company in Secunda, appeared before the Evander Magistrates’ court on Monday, 15 September 2025, for his judgment.
Elmes had been attending court whilst on bail.
The court heard that on the 23rd of November 2023, the security guard received a call about a possible break-in. When he arrived on the streets, he spotted the deceased with the same description from the callout.
The accused’s version was that they started chasing the deceased, shooting him with paintball guns. When they eventually cornered him, he started throwing stones at them; therefore, they shot at him. He could not fire a warning shot as he was in a residential area.
Two witnesses who observed the scene from different angles both testified that the deceased looked terrified trying to get away from the accused. He then started throwing stones at the accused. The court found the witness’s testimony to be credible and reliable.
During judgment the court rejected the accused’s version that he acted in self-defence, shooting at someone five times whilst he had the backup of two security officers 20 meters behind him. The court also found it strange that in the video footage from the security vehicle, it does not show where they started following the deceased. The court also found it questionable that the accused was laughing hysterically, speaking to the deceased as he alighted from the vehicle before shooting at the deceased.
The court concluded that the deceased was scared of the paintball shooting and tried to run away from the accused. It also found the accused to be the aggressor in the situation.
He was found guilty on the charge of murder; he is expected to be sentenced on 31 October 2025.
