Shooter of ‘cold-blooded execution’ on Krugerplein gets an extra year in prison on appeal

The 25-year-old man who shot and killed 30-year-old Amanuel Sambo in 2020 has been sentenced to 13 years in prison in the appeal. That is one year more than the court ruling. The 25-year-old man allegedly got into an argument with Sambo at a birthday party and surrounded him with co-suspects, beat him and finally shot him in the back and buttock. The three co-suspects were acquitted by the court.

In November 2020, Sambo was shot on Krugerplein in Oost, he later died in hospital from his injuries. He was at a party with the suspects on the nearby Transvaalkade. Shortly after the shooting, the police managed to arrest two suspects, and two more suspects were later arrested. It is still unclear what exactly led to the fatal shooting.

‘Ruthless and unscrupulous’

During the trial two years later, the Public Prosecution Service spoke of a ‘cold-blooded execution’, which could indicate nothing other than a premeditated plan. The Public Prosecution Service demanded stiff sentences for the four suspects, between five years and twenty years in prison. The court convicted three of the four suspects. The 25-year-old shooter was then sentenced to twelve years in prison.

In the appeal, the court punished the shooter more severely than the district court did. The court believes a harsher sentence is appropriate due to the ‘ruthlessness and unconscionability’ of his actions. According to the court, the man has shown that he does not care about human life. The court actually finds the maximum prison sentence of 15 years more appropriate, but due to another conviction, a maximum of 13 years could be imposed. The shooter will receive a penalty reduction of one month, because the period in which the case should have been completed has been exceeded.

Co-suspects acquitted

While two of the three co-suspects were sentenced to prison by the court, all three were acquitted by the court. In one case it cannot be proven that he was actually present at the shooting, which is why he was not convicted by the court. It cannot be stated with certainty that the other two suspects knew that the 25-year-old man would shoot the victim.