Update

GEORGE NEWS - After entering a plea and sentencing agreement with the state, Andrew Fleming (41) was handed down 27 years behind bars for the murder of his wife at a guest house in George in 2022.

He will be eligible for parole after serving 18 years of his sentence.

It will then be up to the parole board whether parole is granted or not. He has also been declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Fleming appeared in the George Regional Court on Friday 19 July. Considering all the aspects of the case, the prosecution and defence felt that this sentence was just. It was agreed that he had shown remorse for his actions since the day he handed himself over to the police and did not waste the court's time by drawing out the trial.

Fleming stabbed his wife Karin (52) to death at a guest house in Aspeling Street on 27 April 2022 during a fight. After the incident, he handed himself over to the police who escorted him back to the scene.

Karin's body was found in the bedroom with multiple stab wounds to her face, neck and chest. Fleming was arrested on the scene.

During sentencing, the court heard that the couple fought in bed that morning.

There was a scuffle and they both fell to the ground, knocking over the bedside table. Fleming grabbed a kitchen knife that was on the table and stabbed his wife. According to Fleming, the knife was still on the table after they had chicken the previous evening. It was not unusual for them to eat their dinner in their room.

The court found that he had direct intent to kill her (Dolus Directus). During sentencing proceedings, it was mentioned that Fleming comes from a troubled background that included sexual abuse. He grew up without parents and suffers from bipolar disorder for which he takes medication.

The Flemings were married for 14 years. They had moved to George from the Eastern Cape not long before the incident and were staying in the guest house while looking a place of their own.

Regional prosecutor JJ Marx was for the state. Fleming was represented by Legal Aid SA.

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