Judge Elize Steyn highlighted several factors she said justified a greater sentence than the minimum of 15 years.
Judge Elize Steyn highlighted the seriousness of the offence, indicating that the court is obliged to sentence the accused to at least 15 years in jail unless “substantial and compelling circumstances” for a less severe sentence could be proven.These included that Packham showed disregard for the life of his wife and family, that his wife Gill’s murder was callous, brutal and shocking, that Packham was deceitful in his version of events and that he showed no remorse for the death of his wife.
Packham had been married to his wife for more than thirty years, but the couple had been having marital problems because of his infidelities, before her disappearance on February 22, last year. She did not arrive for work at the usual time of 7.30am and her body was later found in the boot of her burnt-out BMW near the Diep River train station.
Judge Steyn, however, pointed out that Packham’s daughter did not believe he was guilty. She questioned how caring he could have been if he killed his wife and deceived her for years.
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