GOLDIN / BLOOM KILLERS GET 28 YEARS

The trial of two men found guilty of murdering actor Brett Goldin and fashion designer Richard Bloom in April last year in Cape Town has come to an abrupt end on its first day.

The swift conclusion of the trial, which caught the victims’ families by surprise, was as a result of the accused, Shavaan Marlie and Clinton Davids, having negotiated a plea bargain with prosecutors.

The two men pled guilty to murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, illegal possession of a gun and ammunition, and possessing a dangerous weapon. They were each sentenced to 28 years in prison.

The plea agreement required Marlie and Davids to disclose full details of the brutal murder.

In a statement, which was read out in the Cape High Court, the two men revealed that they had set out to steal a car in the early hours of the morning following an alcohol and drug binge.

After accosting Goldin and Bloom they forced the victims to strip at gun point and drove them around the city in the boot of Bloom’s car. When the car got stuck in an area near the M5 freeway, Bloom and Goldin were told to lie on the ground face-down after unsuccessfully trying to push the car.

Davids told Marlie to shoot Goldin and Bloom if they moved. When one of the victims started to scream, Marlie shot them both in the back of the head.

The trial had been set to start in March this year, but was postponed to today on the request of prosecutors.