Africa-Press – South-Africa. A “callous and brutal” Cape Town gangster was sentenced to an effective 33 years in prison by the Western Cape High Court on Thursday for crimes committed during a fight to expand drug turf in Bonteheuwel.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said 34-year-old Shannon Miranda pleaded guilty to “aiding and abetting” the Junky Funky Kids as well as to one murder and two attempted murders.
He also admitted to being illegally in possession of firearm and ammunition.
Miranda confessed in a plea and sentencing agreement to shooting Roscoe Smith in the mouth in Citrus Street, Bonteheuwel, on 25 July 2017.
He claimed Smith belonged to a gang called the Americans.
Smith sustained injuries to his upper lip, tongue and jaw.
On 18 August 2020, Miranda was walking with another gang member in Bonteheuwel when they came across Shayani Kamalie.
While talking to him, they spotted Riyaaz Samaai who was allegedly a member of the Fancy Boys.
In the agreement, Miranda stated he called Samaai over, and they all walked to a field behind Bonteheuwel High School, with Miranda walking with his arm around Samaai.
While walking, he pulled out a gun and shot Samaai in the head several times. He pumped one more bullet in him after he fell. Samaai did not survive the attack.
Kamalie shouted at Miranda, and somebody else started throwing stones at him.
An unnamed gang member fired a shot at Kamalie who made it out alive.
Miranda was arrested on 19 August 2020 and eventually agreed to make a deal with the State.
Ntabazalila said in arguing for a sentence, prosecutor advocate Frank van Heerden told the court Miranda displayed brutal and callous behaviour during the shootings and noted the increasing possession and use of guns contributed to violent crime.
He used semi-automatic weapons for the shootings.
The agreement noted Miranda, a former Bergvliet High pupil, had also shown remorse.
In the agreement, Van Heerden argued gangs posed a security threat and infringed on people’s rights.
He said:
The sentences for the individual counts Miranda faced amounted to 88 years’ imprisonment, but the court ordered the sentences to run concurrently and that he serve 33 years for Samaai’s murder.
Miranda was also declared unfit to possess a firearm, and the police were ordered to collect any other guns and ammunition he might still possess.
Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions advocate Nicolette Bell commended the investigating and prosecution teams for securing a sentence which would send a clear message to gangs their crimes would get them long prison sentences.
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