Two of the men who admitted to the so-called satanic ritual killing of 18-year-old Kirsty Theologo have each been sentenced to 17 years in jail, according to a report on Friday.
Lester Moody and co-accused Jeremy King pleaded guilty to murdering Kirsty, 18.
South African newspaper The Citizen says
Moody and King, both 18, entered into a plea bargain with the State in exchange for a lesser sentence and to testify against co-accused, Lindon Wagner, 21, Robin Harwood, 18, Harvey Isha, 23, and a minor aged 15.
On October, 21, Theologo, 18, and Bronwyn Grammer’s hands were allegedly cut and placed on a Bible to allow the blood to soak in.
They were later doused with petrol and set alight as part of the ritual on a hill in Linmeyer, Johannesburg.
Theologo succumbed to burn wounds and Grammer, 14, was hospitalised for months and underwent skin grafts.
Shortly after sentencing the two, Magistrate Lucas van der Schyff said in his 22 years as a judge, the case was the “most shocking I have ever had to deal with”.
In statements read to the court by their lawyer, Rod Montano, King and Moody admitted to planning to “sacrifice” Theologo three weeks ahead of the incident.
Two evening meetings were held, one at Wagner’s apartment and another at the minor’s home, to discuss the “sacrifice” which Wagner said he had seen in his dream.
Theologo was present during the second meeting and the two said she might have taken it as a joke.
But King and Moody said they were influenced by Wagner, who, they told the court, played a leading role in Theologo’s murder, including dousing her with petrol. They also admitted to being under the influence of alcohol and drugs when they committed the murder.
Magistrate Van der Schyff asked if the two were admitting the incident related to the occult and Montano replied: “They were never involved in a satanic ritual before.
“The idea of cutting the hand and with respect to biblical scripture (Revelations 17 verses 16) was Wagner’s.” […]The murder and attempted murder case against Wagner, Harwood, Isha and a minor was postponed to April 13.