14 years jail for gold miner who admitted to killing co-worker

A 25-year-old gold miner was sentenced to serve 14 years imprisonment on Monday for fatally stabbing his fellow workmate during a heated argument in 2019 at their campsite at Frenchman Backdam, Mabura in Region 10.

Imran Daniels, formerly of the North West District, was sentenced by High Court Judge Brassington Reynolds during a hearing held via Zoom.

Daniels was initially charged with the murder of 19-year-old Alex Daniels but last month he opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

He admitted that on February 14, 2019, he unlawfully killed Alex who resided at Swan Village, Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

The State was represented by Prosecutors Teriq Mohammed and Tyra Bakker while Daniels was represented by Attorney-at-law Ravindra Mohabir.

On Monday, the Judge started Daniels’ sentence at a base of 20 years and made deductions based on his early guilty plea and other mitigating factors.

In the end, Daniels was sentenced to serve 14 years imprisonment.

Reports indicate that on the day in question, the two miners were at a shop imbibing at Frenchman Landing and while they were returning to their camp, Daniels threw away Alex’s slippers and this led to an argument.

At the camp, Daniels armed himself with a knife and dealt Alex two stabs – one to the chest and another above his right hip.

Daniels tried to escape but was arrested by his fellow employees and handed over to the Police at the Mabura Police Station.