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

GUANGZHOU, 06 July 2026 - A car assembly line at the Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) car company. GAC is China’s state-owned automaker. Which manufactures vehicles under its own marques (GAC Motor and AION) and operates highly successful joint ventures with Honda and Toyota. With global reach across 86 regions, it is rapidly expanding into EVs and international production. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

GUANGZHOU, 06 July 2026 - A car assembly line at the Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) car company. GAC is China’s state-owned automaker. Which manufactures vehicles under its own marques (GAC Motor and AION) and operates highly successful joint ventures with Honda and Toyota. With global reach across 86 regions, it is rapidly expanding into EVs and international production. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

NAMPA
WALVIS BAY, 24 April 2026 - President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Vice President Lucia Witbooi accompanied by other senior officials during a recent visit to the Seaworks fishing factory in Walvis Bay. They are looking at some of the most popularly imported seafood. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

WALVIS BAY, 24 April 2026 - President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Vice President Lucia Witbooi accompanied by other senior officials during a recent visit to the Seaworks fishing factory in Walvis Bay. They are looking at some of the most popularly imported seafood. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

NAMPA
GUANGZHOU, 06 July 2026 - President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and First Gentleman Lieutenant-General (Retired) Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah with Namibian cabinet ministers and business delegation, as well as a Chinese delegation attending the Namibia–China Business Networking Forum in Guangzhou on Monday. (Photo by: Isabel Bento)

GUANGZHOU, 06 July 2026 - President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and First Gentleman Lieutenant-General (Retired) Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah with Namibian cabinet ministers and business delegation, as well as a Chinese delegation attending the Namibia–China Business Networking Forum in Guangzhou on Monday. (Photo by: Isabel Bento)

NAMPA
GENEVA, 06 July 2026 - Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus at the official opening of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, Switzerland  on Monday.

(Photo by Josephina Simeon) NAMPA

GENEVA, 06 July 2026 - Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus at the official opening of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday. (Photo by Josephina Simeon) NAMPA

NAMPA
KATIMA MULILO, 06 July 2026 - Zambezi Regional Governor delivering her State of the Region Address ( SORA) on Monday.

(Michael Mutonga Liswaniso) NAMPA

KATIMA MULILO, 06 July 2026 - Zambezi Regional Governor delivering her State of the Region Address ( SORA) on Monday. (Michael Mutonga Liswaniso) NAMPA

NAMPA
GENEVA, 06 July 2026 –  United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres speaking at the opening of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday. (Photo: Josephina Simeon) NAMPA

GENEVA, 06 July 2026 – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres speaking at the opening of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday. (Photo: Josephina Simeon) NAMPA

NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 06 July 2026 - The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) Hockey Club men’s team pictured after being crowned University Sports South Africa (USSA) C Section Champions. (Photo: Contributed)

WINDHOEK, 06 July 2026 - The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) Hockey Club men’s team pictured after being crowned University Sports South Africa (USSA) C Section Champions. (Photo: Contributed)

NAMPA
GUANGZHOU, 06 July 2026 - President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah alongside Guangdong Communist Party of China’s Secretary Huang Kunming in Guangzhou on Monday. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

GUANGZHOU, 06 July 2026 - President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah alongside Guangdong Communist Party of China’s Secretary Huang Kunming in Guangzhou on Monday. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

NAMPA