Ex-cop sentenced to 25 years for murdering ex-girlfriend

NAMPA
2024-10-03
WINDHOEK, 02 October 2024 - Murder convict Brian Plaatjie. (Photo by: Eba Kandovazu) NAMPA WINDHOEK, 02 October 2024 - Murder convict Brian Plaatjie. (Photo by: Eba Kandovazu) NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 03 OCT (NAMPA) - A former police detective attached to the Keetmanshoop Gender Based Violence Unit was on Thursday sentenced to an effective 25-year imprisonment for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Sharon Louw.
Brian Plaatjie during the trial admitted to having murdered Louw, the mother of his two children, between 25 and 26 June 2021. A postmortem found that she suffered multiple stab wounds on her chest, neck and arms. Louw had ended their relationship in 2020 and initiated a protection order against Plaatjie.
“That clearly shows that he has no respect for the law and order which he was required to enforce as a police officer,” Presiding Judge Dinah Usiku remarked.
The murder was committed at the deceased’s residence, where she was found with her boyfriend at the time. The latter was also stabbed and injured while attempting to stop Plaatjie from stabbing Louw.
Plaatjie was subsequently charged with murder, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, breaching a protection order, as well as malicious damage to property. During sentencing, Judge Usiku found that Plaatjie was not remorseful for his actions as he only apologised to the deceased’s family during the trial. She ruled that the apology was not genuine and the murder was pre-meditated.
“Murder, the crime for which the accused has been convicted, does not need emphasis of seriousness. The offence was committed in a domestic setting, which in my view is an aggravating factor in itself. The deceased’s three minor children and her parents will not see her again. The deceased’s right to life was violated,” Usiku found.
(NAMPA)
EB/EK/AS

Latest NAMPA photos

OTJIWARONGO, 27 April 2026 - Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director General, Paulus Noa, speaks at Otjiwarongo on Monday. (Photo by: Mulisa Simiyasa) NAMPA

OTJIWARONGO, 27 April 2026 - Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director General, Paulus Noa, speaks at Otjiwarongo on Monday. (Photo by: Mulisa Simiyasa) NAMPA

NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 27 April 2026 - Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, inaugurated the new Board of Directors of the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) on Monday. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 27 April 2026 - Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, inaugurated the new Board of Directors of the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) on Monday. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA

NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 26 April 2026 - President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Swapo Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa, pictured at the official inauguration of the Swapo Party building. (Photo by: Eba Kandovazu) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 26 April 2026 - President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Swapo Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa, pictured at the official inauguration of the Swapo Party building. (Photo by: Eba Kandovazu) NAMPA

NAMPA
OMUTHIYA, 24 April 2026 - Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Dino Ballotti (L) pictured with Omuthiya Constituency Councillor Erastus Nekomba (R) during the fundraising gala dinner of Omuthiya lipundi Secondary School. (Photo by: Max Henrich) NAMPA

OMUTHIYA, 24 April 2026 - Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Dino Ballotti (L) pictured with Omuthiya Constituency Councillor Erastus Nekomba (R) during the fundraising gala dinner of Omuthiya lipundi Secondary School. (Photo by: Max Henrich) NAMPA

NAMPA
OSHAKATI, 24 April 2026 - Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare addresses the audience during the Omagongo Cultural Festival gala dinner. (Photo: Contributed)

OSHAKATI, 24 April 2026 - Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare addresses the audience during the Omagongo Cultural Festival gala dinner. (Photo: Contributed)

NAMPA
WALVIS BAY, 23 April 2026 - President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Vice President Lucia Witbooi, Erongo Governor Natalia |Goagoses and other government ministers and officials photographed with members of the fishing industry after a two-day engagement. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

WALVIS BAY, 23 April 2026 - President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Vice President Lucia Witbooi, Erongo Governor Natalia |Goagoses and other government ministers and officials photographed with members of the fishing industry after a two-day engagement. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

NAMPA
SWAKOPMUND, 23 April 2026 - Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus and Angola’s Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technology and Social Communication, Mário Augusto da Silva Oliveira (standing) photographed with Telecom Namibia Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Shanapinda and Angola Telecom Chief Executive Officer, Adilson Miguel dos Santos during the signing of an MoU between the two countries. (Photo: Contributed)

SWAKOPMUND, 23 April 2026 - Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus and Angola’s Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technology and Social Communication, Mário Augusto da Silva Oliveira (standing) photographed with Telecom Namibia Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Shanapinda and Angola Telecom Chief Executive Officer, Adilson Miguel dos Santos during the signing of an MoU between the two countries. (Photo: Contributed)

NAMPA
ARANDIS, 23 April 2026 - Rössing Uranium Managing Director Johan Coetzee (right) and MTC Managing Director Licky Erastus commission the mine’s four private long-term evolution (LTE) towers aimed at significantly boosting network coverage across its 50-year-old open pit. (Photo: Contributed)

ARANDIS, 23 April 2026 - Rössing Uranium Managing Director Johan Coetzee (right) and MTC Managing Director Licky Erastus commission the mine’s four private long-term evolution (LTE) towers aimed at significantly boosting network coverage across its 50-year-old open pit. (Photo: Contributed)

NAMPA