Five members of an Indian-origin family in South Africa have been sentenced to at least 10 years in jail each on charges of attempted murder and robbery.
Dan Lutchman, 55, his sons, Justin, 24, and Collin, 27, his daughter Audrey, 34, and her husband, Lucky Reddy, 43, were found guilty of terrorising their neighbour, Louncy Govender in KwaDukuza town, about 75 km north of Durban, and assaulting and robbing Govender's cousin Richard Joseph five years ago.
The magistrates' court in the town sentenced Dan Lutchman to 17 years and the four other members to 10 years each in jail. Prosecutor Mahen Naidu has told the court that Lutchman family members armed themselves with a knife, firearms, bolted stick, and other weapons.
They then attacked Joseph, causing serious injury to his face and nose, open wounds to his head, lacerations all over his torso and stab wounds all over his body. His wife fled the scene in fear of her life.
'While the attack was taking place, members of the Lutchman family rifled through Joseph's pockets and took his wallet, watch and wedding ring. Joseph had to be hospitalised and it took six months for him to recover,' Naidu said.
Just before the Lutchmans were taken away to serve their sentences they warned the prosecutor that he and his spouse should 'watch out'. The court took note of their action and called on the prison authorities to keep a close watch on the convicts.