Cape Town - Sentencing proceedings in the trial of Moyhdian Pangkaeker were heard on Wednesday in the Western Cape High Court.
Pangkaeker, 57, was found guilty of kidnap, rape, murder and mutilation of little Tazne after she had gone missing from a tuckshop in Clare Street, Connaught Estate, Elsies River, on February 7, 2020.
The 8-year-old girl’s decomposing remains were found dumped in a stormwater drain off the N1 in Worcester on February 19, 2020.
State advocate Lenro Badenhorst argued: “It is submitted that the accused is a repeat offender who indiscriminately targets young girls for sexual pleasure and therefore his moral blameworthiness is high.
“The accused should be punished with the most severe punishment possible for his reprehensible actions.
“There are no reasonable prospects of rehabilitation for the accused. He is a danger to society and a long-term sentence would be an appropriate punishment for the offences. The chances to re-offend are very high. He has shown no remorse.”
On Monday, a report by a probation officer recommended a custodial sentence for Pangkaeker, but his defence lawyer, advocate Saleem Halday, questioned whether profiling Pangkaeker as a paedophile would yield reasonable prospects for success regarding his time in Pollsmoor Prison.
Victim impact statements by Tazne’s parents were submitted, in addition to statements from victims.
“It is submitted that the luring away of the innocent victim from the safety of her own neighbourhood and parental care must be seen in the most serious light,” Badenhorst argued.
“The accused had no intention of turning himself in and he seemed to be determined to stay on the run.”
In closing, nine life terms were suggested to Judge Alan Maher as a suitable sentence in the case. The case was postponed to February 14.