Justice for Lekesha Marthinus: Austin du Plessis receives a seven-year sentence
Lakesha Marthinus was killed after being thrown with a beer bottle by her boyfriend.
Image: Supplied
After more than 1 200 days, 21 postponements, and years of emotional court appearances, the man responsible for the death of Lekesha Marthinus has finally been sentenced.
Austin Du Plessis appeared in the Mitchells Plain Regional Court for sentencing proceedings after earlier being found guilty of culpable homicide in the death of the 18-year-old Tafelsig mother.
On 17 February 2026, Du Plessis was convicted of culpable homicide rather than murder after the court found the State had not proven beyond reasonable doubt that he intended to kill Marthinus.
Marthinus died on 5 November 2022 after Du Plessis threw an empty beer bottle at her head while she was holding their nine-month-old baby. She was rushed to hospital but declared dead on arrival.
Lekesha Marthinus, 18, died after a beer bottle was thrown at her and hit her on the temple. With her is her son Ashton who was nine months at the time. Her killer was sentenced to an effective seven year jail term.
Image: Supplied
During sentencing proceedings, the court handed Du Plessis a 10-year prison sentence, with three years suspended, leading to an effective sentence of seven years’ direct imprisonment.
Advocacy organisation Action Society, which monitored the case as part of its victims’ rights oversight programme in the Western Cape, said the sentence marked an important step toward accountability, although it would never erase the pain suffered by Marthinus’ loved ones.
“Today’s sentence is an important step toward accountability, but it does not lessen the devastating loss suffered by Lekesha’s family and loved ones,” said Kaylynn Palm, Head of Action Society’s Action Centre in the Western Cape.
Palm added that the case highlighted the need for a justice system that treats violence against women with urgency and seriousness.
“Action Society remains committed to supporting families affected by violent crime and demanding a justice system that treats violence against women with the seriousness it deserves.”
The matter drew widespread attention over the years due to repeated delays, with postponements linked to incomplete investigations, outstanding reports and delays in judgment proceedings.
For Marthinus’ family, especially her mother Cheryl-Ann Smith who attended each and every court date, each appearance became another painful reminder of the loss of a young mother, her daughter, whose young child would now grow up without her.
Weekend Argus tried to get hold of Marthinus' mom but without any success.
Action Society said it would continue its work supporting victims’ families and advocating for accountability in violent crime matters.