Psychologist recommends suspended sentence for Dippenaar
Psychologist Willem Annandale believes Jandré Dippenaar, who is responsible for a horror car crash that killed six people nearly ten years ago, should receive a suspended sentence.
Annandale’s recommendation was highlighted yesterday during the second day of Dippenaar's pre-sentencing hearing at the Swakopmund Regional Court.
Dippenaar was convicted on six charges of murder, reckless and/or negligent driving, as well as driving without a valid driver’s license, stemming from an accident that occurred near Henties Bay in December 2014.
Annandale was brought in by Dippenaar’s legal team after the objectivity of the previous psychologist, who testified during the trial, was questioned.
During his testimony on Wednesday, Annandale explained that during an assessment, he found that Dippenaar had not planned the accident and believes Dippenaar's claim of memory loss following the accident is genuine.
“A lengthy prison sentence would not be appropriate. He has suffered emotionally, socially, physically and financially,” he told the court.
'Suffered' in aftermath of crash
Annandale said he believes Dippenaar was in a positive mindset before the accident. He was keen to settle down and had gone to great lengths to introduce his love interest at the time, Dinah Pretorius – who also died in the accident – to his mother and grandmother.
“He was successful in his career and sports. He was in the process of calming down, as he had been described as a ‘wild’ young man who enjoyed drinking and partying with friends. There were no hints of him being anti-social, having anger issues or exhibiting psychotic traits prior to or on the day of the accident,” Annandale said.
Through his assessment and the psychometric tests he conducted, Annandale testified that Dippenaar is not feigning his memory loss from the accident.
“He constantly questions himself about what he could have done differently to prevent the accident, which causes him significant stress. He has also suffered greatly from the hate speech, criticism and backlash he received on social media and through negative news coverage. He regrets the accident, is extremely remorseful over what happened, struggles with significant physical pain and has lost a lot of confidence since the accident,” Annandale said.
“The lack of aggravating factors should not be overshadowed by the magnitude of the tragedy when the court decides on a sentence," he advised.
Public response
During cross-examination, State advocate Ethel Ndlovu asked Annandale how a suspended sentence could potentially impact the victims and society at large, who might be tempted to take matters into their own hands.
“I do acknowledge the risk, but society has already found him guilty, and I do not see how a harsh sentence will prevent the public from going on a moral crusade on social media,” Annandale replied.
He added that it was not within his brief or scope of duty to assess the impact on the victims.
‘Recluse’
Frans Grobler, a long-time friend of Dippenaar, testified yesterday that he had never felt unsafe driving with Dippenaar. Grobler, who now owns his own business, used to work in the Windhoek City Police Traffic Department for 24 years.
Grobler was also one of the first people Dippenaar confided in after the accident.
“When I visited him in the hospital, he asked everyone to leave the room so that we could talk privately. He became very emotional when he told me that he heard people had been killed in the accident and that it was never his intention to hurt anyone,” Grobler recalled.
Grobler added that since the accident, Dippenaar has become a recluse.
“He became very withdrawn. The verbal attacks, the negative and hurtful comments in the newspapers and on social media – it became personal. People were attacking him personally. We were all young once and made mistakes, but he still has a lot to contribute to society, his friends and his family.”
Sentencing drawing closer
Oral submissions by Dippenaar’s defence team, advocates Albert Strydom and Petrie Theron and State advocate Ethel Ndlovu will commence on Thursday morning at 10:00, with magistrate Gaynor Poulton expected to deliver the sentence on Friday.
On Tuesday, the State called Jan-Karel Horn, the father of JC Horn, who was also killed in the accident, and Antonia Joschko, the only other survivor of the crash aside from Dippenaar, to testify.
The crash also claimed the lives of Charlene Schoombee and Joschko’s entire family, including her parents, Markus and Stephanie Joschko and her sister Alexandra.
Annandale’s recommendation was highlighted yesterday during the second day of Dippenaar's pre-sentencing hearing at the Swakopmund Regional Court.
Dippenaar was convicted on six charges of murder, reckless and/or negligent driving, as well as driving without a valid driver’s license, stemming from an accident that occurred near Henties Bay in December 2014.
Annandale was brought in by Dippenaar’s legal team after the objectivity of the previous psychologist, who testified during the trial, was questioned.
During his testimony on Wednesday, Annandale explained that during an assessment, he found that Dippenaar had not planned the accident and believes Dippenaar's claim of memory loss following the accident is genuine.
“A lengthy prison sentence would not be appropriate. He has suffered emotionally, socially, physically and financially,” he told the court.
'Suffered' in aftermath of crash
Annandale said he believes Dippenaar was in a positive mindset before the accident. He was keen to settle down and had gone to great lengths to introduce his love interest at the time, Dinah Pretorius – who also died in the accident – to his mother and grandmother.
“He was successful in his career and sports. He was in the process of calming down, as he had been described as a ‘wild’ young man who enjoyed drinking and partying with friends. There were no hints of him being anti-social, having anger issues or exhibiting psychotic traits prior to or on the day of the accident,” Annandale said.
Through his assessment and the psychometric tests he conducted, Annandale testified that Dippenaar is not feigning his memory loss from the accident.
“He constantly questions himself about what he could have done differently to prevent the accident, which causes him significant stress. He has also suffered greatly from the hate speech, criticism and backlash he received on social media and through negative news coverage. He regrets the accident, is extremely remorseful over what happened, struggles with significant physical pain and has lost a lot of confidence since the accident,” Annandale said.
“The lack of aggravating factors should not be overshadowed by the magnitude of the tragedy when the court decides on a sentence," he advised.
Public response
During cross-examination, State advocate Ethel Ndlovu asked Annandale how a suspended sentence could potentially impact the victims and society at large, who might be tempted to take matters into their own hands.
“I do acknowledge the risk, but society has already found him guilty, and I do not see how a harsh sentence will prevent the public from going on a moral crusade on social media,” Annandale replied.
He added that it was not within his brief or scope of duty to assess the impact on the victims.
‘Recluse’
Frans Grobler, a long-time friend of Dippenaar, testified yesterday that he had never felt unsafe driving with Dippenaar. Grobler, who now owns his own business, used to work in the Windhoek City Police Traffic Department for 24 years.
Grobler was also one of the first people Dippenaar confided in after the accident.
“When I visited him in the hospital, he asked everyone to leave the room so that we could talk privately. He became very emotional when he told me that he heard people had been killed in the accident and that it was never his intention to hurt anyone,” Grobler recalled.
Grobler added that since the accident, Dippenaar has become a recluse.
“He became very withdrawn. The verbal attacks, the negative and hurtful comments in the newspapers and on social media – it became personal. People were attacking him personally. We were all young once and made mistakes, but he still has a lot to contribute to society, his friends and his family.”
Sentencing drawing closer
Oral submissions by Dippenaar’s defence team, advocates Albert Strydom and Petrie Theron and State advocate Ethel Ndlovu will commence on Thursday morning at 10:00, with magistrate Gaynor Poulton expected to deliver the sentence on Friday.
On Tuesday, the State called Jan-Karel Horn, the father of JC Horn, who was also killed in the accident, and Antonia Joschko, the only other survivor of the crash aside from Dippenaar, to testify.
The crash also claimed the lives of Charlene Schoombee and Joschko’s entire family, including her parents, Markus and Stephanie Joschko and her sister Alexandra.
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