The High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division, Gqeberha, sentenced notorious Northern Areas’ New Kids Gang member, Claudio Calvert (22), to life imprisonment for murder. The court further sentenced him to 15 years for possession of an unlicensed firearm and five years for illegal possession of ammunition on Tuesday, March 4.
Detailing the crimes committed by Calvert, Eastern Cape NPA Regional Spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said that on the morning of July 15, 2022, Cameron Rayston Daniels (32) was walking from Leith Street into Baatjies Street, close to the Resource Centre in Helenvale, Gqeberha, when Calvert, who was in the company of an unknown male, approached him, took out a firearm, and fatally shot him in broad daylight. Daniels died at the scene.
Tyali explained: “Two days after the incident, police investigations led to the arrest of Calvert, who eyewitnesses identified.”
“During the trial, Calvert pleaded not guilty and claimed an alibi, stating he was asleep at his cousin’s house during the commission of the crime. However, State Advocate Sivuyile McKay presented evidence from two witnesses. One witness testified that he had seen Calvert with a firearm in his hand running away from the crime scene. Another 17-year-old witness, who lived at the same property as the deceased, testified to having witnessed the actual shooting and identified Calvert as the shooter.”
According to Tyali, in mitigation of sentencing, the defense submitted that the court should consider Calvert’s age, as he was 19 years old when he committed the offense, as a substantial and compelling circumstance to deviate from the prescribed sentence of life for premeditated murder.
“However, the court agreed with Advocate McKay’s argument that despite certain limited successes, there has been no real let-up in the gang-related crime pandemic that engulfs the whole country, especially in Helenvale, the area where the killer and the deceased resided, and the situation continues to be alarming,” Tyali stated.
Welcoming the sentence, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Barry Madolo stated that human life can never be overemphasised, and therefore, the NPA will be vigorous in its pursuit of these cases to serve as a deterrent to would-be murderers.
