Prison Journalism: The Story of Paulus

Prison Journalism: The Story of PaulusDavid van Nek was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Prison from 2013 until 2015 and participated in the restorative justice programme.

by David van Nek

28-03-2024 12:23

in Prison Journalism

Prison Image by Unsplash

Warning: This article features content which readers may find disturbing

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The next draft brought me back to Kimberley, where my sentence was almost halfway through. They say Kimberley is the land of honey and milk. The guys would call that prison suikerhuis . I spent six months in Kimberley, and at Pollsmoor, I encountered thieves and individuals involved in hijacking with a gun, murder, and rape. Among them, a guy once told me how he killed his girlfriend. I never saw his charge sheet, but it was for murder.

He recounted how long ago he had dated this lady with whom he had a child. Paulus mentioned they had lived together for about 11 years when she began cheating on him. He described how one Friday, upon arriving home, he started drinking wine, then beer, and finally vodka. Paulus said he stayed at the lady's house, although he travelled a lot and only came home at the end of the month. His sisters and everyone complained about his girlfriend, alleging she was dating a man from Zimbabwe. Despite his inquiries, she denied dating anyone. After several tests, all showing negative results, he resolved to kill her.

The Night of the Crime Time passed until the end of the month when he arrived home to find her drinking with friends. They were happy to see him, but Paulus was heartbroken. As she danced joyously, Paulus began to drink heavily. After the party ended and everyone had gone to sleep, only Paulus and the lady remained. He revealed that he still had a bottle of vodka in his bag, which he drank nonstop until he was drunk by 3:00 am.

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He drank the entire bottle of vodka like water and started smoking drugs, overwhelmed with thoughts. With the music at maximum volume, he said he killed her while she was asleep with one strike to the throat. After finishing the bottle, he locked the door, left the key next door, and went to the police station drunk. He confessed to the captain, who knew Paulus well, that he had killed his girlfriend.

The Aftermath Paulus began to cry as the captain placed him in a single cell. He told the captain where to find the key, and upon retrieval, the officers discovered the lady dead. The captain called for backup, and the police arrived at the scene. In his cell, Paulus wept profusely, revealing to the other inmates that she had given him AIDS, prompting him to take her life. Neither family was pleased with the outcome. After an eight-month trial, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. At the time of my stay in Kimberley, Paulus had already served 6 years of his sentence. He often said that upon release, there would be no more women for him. This was the story of Paulus.

DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

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Should you wish to assist in the rehabilitation of former inmates and help put money into the pockets of those who have struggled to earn a living during and after incarceration, click HERE

RESTORE is an NGO based in Cape Town, South Africa, providing inmates at Pollsmoor Prison with restorative justice opportunities.

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