Family of slain Keetmans woman bemoans 25-year jail term
The families of ex-policeman Morgan Brian Plaatjie (46) and his late ex-girlfriend, Yvette Louw, were in tears when Judge Dinnah Usiku sentenced him to 25 years in prison yesterday.
Plaatjie stabbed Louw several times in her arms, chest, back and neck with a knife about three years ago. This is despite the fact that she had several protection orders against him before her death.
During court proceedings before the sentencing, Louw's stepfather Henry Nicolas said Plaatjie's abusive behaviour was known among family and colleagues. Louw reportedly endured domestic violence all throughout the relationship.
Ironically, Plaatjie was previously a detective attached to the police's unit against gender-based violence.
‘Too lenient’
After the sentencing in the Windhoek High Court, Nicolas expressed his dissatisfaction with the jail term, which he said was too lenient. He believes that Plaatjie will still be young enough after 25 years to continue with his life.
According to a psychologist's report, Plaatjie and Louw's relationship was riddled with arguments, which mainly focused on the paternity of their daughter.
"[Plaatjie] was devastated by the news he received from a certain woman that their daughter was not his," court documents state.
Assaults, threats
New Era previously reported that Plaatjie and Louw were involved in a romantic relationship, from which two children were born.
However, two years before her death, she ended the relationship, and moved into her own residence in Keetmanshoop’s Tseiblaagte residential area.
Due to ongoing assaults and threats of assault by Plaatjie, Louw applied and obtained a protection order, the newspaper reported.
He, however, violated the order on 7 May 2021 when he went to her house and insulted and threatened her as well as damaged her TV set. She then opened a criminal case against him. He was arrested, but released on bail.
Violent assault
Plaatjie arrived at Louw's home unannounced on the evening of 25 June 2021 while she and her partner were sitting outside the house.
He attacked them and stabbed them both several times with a knife. Louw's partner managed to flee the scene, however, Plaatjie continued his violent assault on his ex-girlfriend.
She ran and locked herself in the house, but the former policeman broke down the door and continued to stab her. While she tried to fight back, Louw eventually collapsed.
Plaatjie then called the police and requested them to take her to the hospital. The couple’s 14-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son have been living with relatives since their mother’s murder.
Six charges
Plaatjie was found guilty on six charges including murder, assault, willful damage to property and breach of protection orders.
On the charge of murder, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison. He was sentenced to an additional three years in prison for assault with intent to seriously injure.
On the other charge, he was sentenced to a total of three-and-a-half years in prison, which will be served concurrently with the 25-year sentences for the murder and assault charges.
Plaatjie stabbed Louw several times in her arms, chest, back and neck with a knife about three years ago. This is despite the fact that she had several protection orders against him before her death.
During court proceedings before the sentencing, Louw's stepfather Henry Nicolas said Plaatjie's abusive behaviour was known among family and colleagues. Louw reportedly endured domestic violence all throughout the relationship.
Ironically, Plaatjie was previously a detective attached to the police's unit against gender-based violence.
‘Too lenient’
After the sentencing in the Windhoek High Court, Nicolas expressed his dissatisfaction with the jail term, which he said was too lenient. He believes that Plaatjie will still be young enough after 25 years to continue with his life.
According to a psychologist's report, Plaatjie and Louw's relationship was riddled with arguments, which mainly focused on the paternity of their daughter.
"[Plaatjie] was devastated by the news he received from a certain woman that their daughter was not his," court documents state.
Assaults, threats
New Era previously reported that Plaatjie and Louw were involved in a romantic relationship, from which two children were born.
However, two years before her death, she ended the relationship, and moved into her own residence in Keetmanshoop’s Tseiblaagte residential area.
Due to ongoing assaults and threats of assault by Plaatjie, Louw applied and obtained a protection order, the newspaper reported.
He, however, violated the order on 7 May 2021 when he went to her house and insulted and threatened her as well as damaged her TV set. She then opened a criminal case against him. He was arrested, but released on bail.
Violent assault
Plaatjie arrived at Louw's home unannounced on the evening of 25 June 2021 while she and her partner were sitting outside the house.
He attacked them and stabbed them both several times with a knife. Louw's partner managed to flee the scene, however, Plaatjie continued his violent assault on his ex-girlfriend.
She ran and locked herself in the house, but the former policeman broke down the door and continued to stab her. While she tried to fight back, Louw eventually collapsed.
Plaatjie then called the police and requested them to take her to the hospital. The couple’s 14-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son have been living with relatives since their mother’s murder.
Six charges
Plaatjie was found guilty on six charges including murder, assault, willful damage to property and breach of protection orders.
On the charge of murder, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison. He was sentenced to an additional three years in prison for assault with intent to seriously injure.
On the other charge, he was sentenced to a total of three-and-a-half years in prison, which will be served concurrently with the 25-year sentences for the murder and assault charges.
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