While two men were found guilty yesterday of murdering young Aliya “Angel” Tee and now face lengthy prison terms, fear continues to grip the gang-plagued northern areas community she came from.
The 12-year-old’s parents, Edmund and Candice Tee, remain in protective custody and were not in court yesterday to witness the final gavel come down on their little girl’s coldblooded killers.
Judge Mandela Makaula commended the Tees in a lengthy judgment in the Port Elizabeth High Court, pausing to recall how the grieving parents had bravely testified to the harrowing events of June 7 2016.
Makaula said it had been extremely emotional listening to Candice’s hysterical phone call to emergency services as she pleaded for help.
Angel’s tearful family and friends embraced in court yesterday as Nealon Redhouse, 18, and Deon Harmse, 24 – suspected members of the Spotbouers gang – were found guilty of impersonating police officers, the murder of Angel and the attempted murders of Edmund and Candice.
In addition, Redhouse, who is already serving 18 years in prison for an unrelated murder, was found guilty of the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
“To all the other victims in the northern areas, this is to say ‘hold on tight, you need to believe there will be justice’,” Candice's sister, Ranchia Andrews, said.
Makaula said he believed the men had entered the family ’s Barberry Street, Bethelsdorp, home with the intention of killing Edmund and Candice after they witnessed the gang-related murder of Donovan “Staal” Berry a month before.
The men had first pretended to be police officers.
“The issue to be decided is whether or not Edmund and Candice correctly identified the accused. The simple answer is yes,” Makaula said.
“They knew the accused well and the lights were on [in the home].”
Security officials lined the courtroom as the judge delivered his verdict.
Makaula said it had been painful for the Tees to come to court to testify.
“It was a painful experience, especially for Candice, who saw her child lying in a pool of her own blood.“Yet her testimony was solid and she remained unshaken under cross-examination.
“[The couple] excelled in reliving the pain from that night.
“The trauma they suffered in their home did not affect how they told their story.”
He said the blood spatter evidence of the state’s forensic expert corroborated Candice’s version of how Angel had knelt down on the bathroom floor, praying and pleading with her killers not to shoot her.
The promising Strelizia Primary School pupil was shot once in the head, execution style, while Edmund was shot in the left arm, hip and neck.
He is now a paraplegic and had both legs amputated below the knee.
Makaula said the firearm found in Redhouse’s possession had been positively linked to Berry’s murder.
“I am of the firm view that was the motive.”
Candice’s brother, Gary Geduld, said the family had not been allowed to contact the Tees in protective custody.
“I am sure they will be happy with the news. I just want them to get some closure now,” Geduld said.
He thanked the prosecution and the police for their hard work.
The matter was postponed to July 26 for pre-sentence reports due to the relatively young ages of the accused