GEORGE NEWS - Seven months after being released on parole for the murder of his wife, Johan Miana has been found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for the similar brutal murder of his partner, Maria Ambraal (23), near Kammanassie.
Miana, who had served only 10 years of a 17-year sentence for murder of his wife in 2012, was found guilty of the murder of Ambraal by Judge Andre le Grange in the George Circuit High Court on Friday 10 October.
The murder was committed on 8 November 2024 on Eagle Falls farm, Kammanasie, Uniondale, in the George district.
Le Grange imposed the life sentence after State Advocate John Ryneveld argued there were no substantial and compelling circumstances why the life sentence should not be imposed.
Ryneveld submitted that the offence fell within the ambit of Part 1of a Schedule 2 offence because:
• The accused was in a domestic relationship with the deceased.
• Physical violence was used to kill her, hitting her with a clenched fist, stabbing her with a knife and hitting her with a stone over her head.
“Therefore the minimum sentence is life imprisonment,” said Ryneveld.
Femicide
Ryneveld called investigating officer Captain Eric Jacobs who testified that Miana was out on parole at the time he killed Ambraal.
The previous crime he committed was the murder of his wife, whom he had stabbed to death, according to Jacobs.
Ryneveld submitted that, given the fact that he was out on parole for a similar offence, Miana had already been afforded the opportunity to rehabilitate outside prison.
“By committing this offence, which is an intimate femicide offence and gender-based violence merely seven months after being paroled, is a clear indication that he is a danger to society and the only appropriate sentence, despite him pleading guilty, is life imprisonment,” said Ryneveld.
Statement
Miana admitted in his statement in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act that on the night in question, he and Ambraal had visited friends on a neighbouring farm, where they consumed alcohol and he smoked dagga.
On the way home, at about midnight, he and Ambraal had an argument.
He admitted to repeatedly hitting Ambraal in her face and abdomen with clenched fists. When she fell to the ground and tried to crawl away, he took out his work knife that he always carried with him, and stabbed her repeatedly.
After the knife fell, he picked up a stone and hit her on her head repeatedly. When he realised that she must be dead, he panicked and ran away.
“I admit that even though I was under the influence of alcohol and dagga, I knew exactly what I was doing, since I consume alcohol and smoke dagga on a regular basis. I admit that when I was assaulting, stabbing and hitting the deceased, I knew at all relevant times that my conduct was wrongful and punishable by this Honourable Court,” the statement read.
Mercy
He regretted that he committed the offence and asked for mercy when the sentence was passed.
Advocate Johan Visser, for Miana, asked the court to deviate from the minimum life sentence for Miana as he only became violent when under the influence of alcohol.
Murdered: Maria Ambraal
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