The family of six-year-old Saadiqah Lippert who was shot and killed in Bokmakierie in May last year is devastated after the two men accused of killing her were set free last week.
Samier Slamang, 24, and Waylon Botha, 22, were acquitted on all 13 charges against them, including the murder of Saadiqah, and charges relating to organised crime, in the Western Cape High Court last Monday as the State’s case was said to be weak and their witnesses “unreliable”.
The shooting occurred as the Grade 1 pupil was getting ready to go home after spending the weekend at the home of her grandmother, Kamiela Lippert.
Saadiqah and her cousin were waiting outside for their grandmother to take them home to Saadiqah’s mother’s home in Kewtown when men ran by and opened fire, shooting the little girl in her stomach.
She was rushed to Groote Schuur Hospital where she underwent an operation and was put on life support after a few hours but died during the early hours of the next morning.
Her grandmother said the family was devastated to hear that the accused have been acquitted on all charges.
“I don’t know what happened in that court because there were people who saw them shooting. But I have nothing to say; I will leave it in Allah’s hands. The family is very disappointed,” she said.
Saadiqah’s mother, Chemieze Francis, said: “There is nothing I can say, the case is closed, now I leave it to the eyes of the Almighty.”
Additional information from the Daily Voice.
