18-year-old sentenced to 25 years for violent beach murder in Saldanha Bay

An 18-year-old male who had sexual intercourse with another man on a beach in Saldanha Bay and then stabbed and bludgeoned him to death with a rock before making off with his cellphone has been sentenced to 25 years direct imprisonment. 

The Vredenburg Regional Court sentenced convicted murderer, Wesley Snyders, after he confessed that he stabbed Erlilo Byl, 27, all over his body, bludgeoned him with the rock and robbed him.

The court ordered Snyders to serve two-thirds of the 25 year direct imprisonment sentence before he can be placed on parole.

It also ordered Byl’s family to be notified of the sentence and declared Snyders unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of Act 60 of 2000.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said Snyders confessed in a plea and sentence agreement finalised with the State, that between January 14 and 17, 2024, he unlawfully and intentionally killed Byl by stabbing him and assaulting him with the rock.

He killed Byl while committing a robbery with aggravating circumstances.

He claimed that he and Byl agreed to have sex at the beach in Saldanha Bay.

After they had sex, he decided to rob Byl of his cellphone.

"The deceased resisted and did not want to hand over the cellphone. He stabbed him all over his body with a knife he had, and the deceased fell to the ground. He took a rock that was close by and beat him with it. He then took his cellphone and ran away. He confirmed that the deceased died because he stabbed the deceased with a knife and assaulted him with a rock. He admitted that although he was under the influence of drugs, he was still able to differentiate between right and wrong and to act in accordance with such appreciation. He further admitted that he at all material times intended to rob and subsequently kill Byl," Ntabazalila said. 

Arguing for a sentence fitting the crime, the Vredenburg Magistrate's Court's Senior Public Prosecutor said the accused caused the death of another human being, who was only 27 years old at the time of his death.

Byl was last seen on January 14, 2024, which led to him being reported missing.

His body was found on the beach on January 17, 2024.

"This had a traumatic effect on his family and friends.

"In mitigation of sentence, the defence argued that substantial and compelling circumstances which justify a sentence other than the prescribed sentence existed," Ntabazalila said. 

"They were argued that the accused was 18 years old at the time of the offence and thus his youthfulness should be considered.

"He had pleaded guilty and exhibited true remorse. His plea of guilty has spared the State the expense and inconvenience of a protracted trial.

"The NPA welcomes the sentence and commits to continue prosecuting criminals who commit serious crimes like murder."

Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.

Cape Argus