Drug dealer sentenced to life for murder of 12-year-old Athlone boy

Western Cape High Court has sentenced a man to life in prison for shooting and killing a 12-year-old boy while purchasing illegal drugs in 2018.

Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, said the accused, Jerome “Rompie” Cupido and a male accomplice went to buy drugs on 8 Short Street in Hazendal, Athlone on 26 of April, 2018.

When they got to the house, the house owner, Ashraf Mitchell was not around, they met the 12-year-old boy and two other men, Samuel Brown and Clint Sholtz, sitting in the front yard.

When Cupido and his accomplice were done purchasing the drugs, he opened fire on the deceased and the two other men in front yard of the house.

“The men enquired about and purchased drugs from Samuel Brown, whereupon Brown went into the house to get the drugs,” Van Wyk said.

“When he returned from the house and handed the drugs to Cupido, he took the drugs, took out a firearm and started to shoot at the deceased and the complainants.”

“The deceased and complainants sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital, where they received medical treatment.”

“Twelve-year-old Aseef Mitchell died the same evening in hospital due to the gunshot wound.”

The court sentenced Cupido to life imprisonment without parole for murder.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison for attempted murder, fifteen years for the possession of a firearm.

The Western Cape police management were pleased with the sentence.