Repeat offender jailed 15 years for Gqeberha Christmas Day murder
The court imposed a concurrent sentence for murder, attempted murder, and firearm possession
Donoven Carolus, a 57-year-old repeat offender, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the murder and attempted murder of Elston Bain on Christmas Day 2024 in Gqeberha's Jacksonville township. Carolus was also sentenced to seven years for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The court heard that Bain was in his car with a friend and sister when Carolus shot him in the head without saying a word when he exited his vehicle. Carolus fled the scene, but Bain's sister and a friend identified him based on his visible facial scar. He was arrested on January 5, 2025. During the trial, Carolus pleaded not guilty and called his wife as an alibi witness, but the sister's testimony and the ballistic report linking the firearm to the crime were decisive.
Carolus had a previous conviction and sentence for two murders, which the prosecutor used to argue for a longer sentence. However, the court considered Carolus' advanced age and chronic medical condition as exceptional circumstances, leading to a shorter sentence. The Director of Public Prosecutions emphasized that the sentence sends a strong message against violent crime and lawlessness in the community.
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