BLOEMFONTEIN: The Free State High Court has sentenced a Trompsburg man to a minimum of nine years’ imprisonment after finding him guilty of culpable homicide and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) in connection with his wife’s death. Pule Louw (34), who has two children with the deceased, was sentenced on Thursday, 16 October, for the incident that occurred early in June last year.
His wife, Dolly Louw, died following a brutal domestic violence attack. The conviction and sentencing were based on compelling evidence presented during the trial. The case was initially heard in the Trompsburg Magistrate’s Court, before being transferred to the High Court in Bloemfontein.
Sgt. Sinah Mpakane, spokesperson for the Free State police, confirmed that Louw had pleaded guilty to both charges. After an assault leading up to the incident of assault that claimed her life, the deceased detailed how her husband had severely assaulted her with a wooden stick.
“Louw was sentenced to six years for assault GBH and nine years for culpable homicide. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve nine years in prison. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm,” Mpakane said.
The investigation revealed that Dolly had been severely beaten, with her face swollen and bleeding. Emergency medical personnel declared her dead upon arrival at the family’s Key Street home on 1 June last year.
The court heard harrowing testimony about the brutal assault, including evidence from a statement Dolly had made on 7 April 2024 when she opened an assault GBH case at the Trompsburg police station.
“The deceased detailed how her husband had severely assaulted her with a wooden stick and broken her leg in the process,” Mpakane explained.
During the fatal attack, the court heard, Louw had continuously kicked and slapped his wife.
Afterwards, Dolly went to sleep on a mattress on the floor with her children.
Her death was discovered the following morning when the couple’s ten-year-old son tried to wake her.
When she did not respond, the child informed his father, who told the children to go and play outside.
The boy later saw an ambulance and police arriving at the family home.
■ The court reduced the charge from the initial murder charge to culpable homicide, following Dolly’s death.
