Woman Jailed for Life After Court Finds She Orchestrated Brutal Murder of Partner in Gauteng
A Gauteng woman who denied any involvement in the brutal killing of her partner has been sentenced to life imprisonment after the Pretoria High Court found that she carefully orchestrated the murder before attempting to conceal the crime.
The court heard chilling evidence of betrayal, violence and a calculated cover-up that ultimately led to the conviction of 37-year-old Antoinette Maritz of Petit. Judge Samuel Makamu ruled that there were no substantial or compelling circumstances to justify a lighter sentence, describing the crimes as ruthless and finding that Maritz had shown no genuine remorse.
Maritz was sentenced to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of her partner, Wayne Henderson. She also received 15 years’ direct imprisonment for attempted murder, 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and five years for defeating the ends of justice.
The court ordered that the sentences for the additional offences run concurrently with the life sentence. Maritz was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
According to Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Tshegofatso Makhudu, the case exposed a carefully planned attack that ended in Henderson’s death and left his elderly mother traumatised.
Her co accused, Johan George Pratt, was sentenced to 30 years’ direct imprisonment on 15 April 2025 after entering into a plea and sentence agreement with the State. He was convicted of premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and defeating the ends of justice.
A Night of Violence
The court heard that on the night of 5 November 2023, Maritz contacted Pratt, who was her former boyfriend, and asked him to come to the home she shared with Henderson and his mother in Suiderberg.
When Pratt arrived, Maritz opened the gate and allowed him to enter the property through a rear window.
During the night, she led him to Henderson’s bedroom while he was asleep. Pratt then launched a violent attack, repeatedly stabbing Henderson.
After the assault, the pair dragged Henderson’s body into another bedroom before hiding inside the house until morning.
Henderson’s Mother Also Attacked
The violence did not end there.
The following morning, Maritz and Pratt emerged from their hiding place and confronted Henderson’s mother in the living room.
According to the prosecution, Pratt repeatedly struck her over the head with an ashtray before tying her up and stealing her belongings.
The pair then loaded Henderson’s body into his mother’s vehicle, drove to a veld near Standerton and dumped his body before fleeing to the home of Pratt’s brother.
Police investigations eventually led to the arrest of both accused on 15 March 2024. They remained behind bars throughout the legal proceedings after the National Prosecuting Authority successfully opposed their bail applications.
Court Rejects Maritz’s Defence
Throughout the trial, Maritz pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement in the crimes.
However, State prosecutor Advocate Mokautu Masilo presented evidence that the court found overwhelming. This included testimony from Pratt as well as Henderson’s mother, both of whom implicated Maritz in planning and carrying out the crimes.
During sentencing proceedings, Maritz’s legal team asked the court to impose a lesser sentence, arguing that she was a first time offender, the mother of nine dependent children and had already spent two years in custody awaiting the conclusion of the trial.
The State strongly opposed the request.
Advocate Masilo argued that Maritz had shown no remorse and had abused the trust placed in her by Henderson and his family. He submitted that she had manipulated Pratt into assisting with the murder and had robbed Henderson’s family of their son through a carefully orchestrated act of violence.
The prosecution also submitted Victim Impact Statements, prepared with the assistance of Court Preparation Officer Lebogang Lebese. In her statement, Henderson’s mother described the devastating emotional and psychological impact of losing her son in such horrific circumstances.
Judge Finds No Remorse
In delivering judgment, Judge Makamu accepted the State’s arguments and found that Maritz had attempted to manipulate the court by displaying what he described as insincere sympathy.
He concluded that she continued to deny responsibility despite overwhelming evidence proving her role in the offences.
The judge described the crimes as ruthless and ruled that there were no substantial or compelling circumstances to justify departing from South Africa’s prescribed minimum sentence for premeditated murder.
With the life sentence now imposed, the court has brought to a close a case marked by betrayal, calculated violence and the devastating loss suffered by Henderson’s family.
