Taxi driver Jacob Humphreys, convicted of killing 10 children, is an upstanding member of the community, a court has heard.
|||Taxi driver Jacob Humphreys convicted of killing 10 children was an upstanding member of the community, the Western Cape High Court heard on Monday.
“Community members stated that he's helped them in various ways,” criminologist Claire Wolff said while reading out the pre-sentencing report in mitigation of sentence.
She said Humphreys was a ward leader for the Roman Catholic church and held regular prayer meetings and Bible studies.
Community members told her they were all very good friends with him prior to the event. In one instance, Humphreys had offered his support to a neighbour whose child had died. He also played a key role in the criminal rehabilitation of a friend's daughter.
“I found that he has made a substantial contribution to society and this plays an important role in his life,” Wolff said.
Humphreys, who had his R20 000 bail reinstated last year, was found guilty of murder and attempted murder.
Humphreys was taking the children to school on August 25 last year when he stopped at the Buttskop level crossing in Blackheath.
He overtook a row of cars, ignored safety signals and proceeded over the tracks.
A train hit the taxi and 10 of the children were killed. Four children were seriously injured. – Sapa