A man convicted of his ex-wife’s murder has been sentenced to life behind bars.
Ashley October and Taswill van der Rheede were sentenced in the Western Cape High Court on Friday.
Van der Rheede who was October’s accomplice — has been handed a 15-year sentence, while Ashley will serve life in prison.
Charlene October was killed at her home more than a year ago.
It’s believed that Ashley – who is Charlene’s ex-husband – approached van der Rheede to help execute Charlene’s murder, all in a bid to claim from her life insurance policy.
Taswill Van Der Rheede and Ashley October in the dock of the Western Cape High Court for sentencing on Friday, 21 October 2022.
Image: Caitlin Maledo
During the trial, the court heard that Ashley had been plotting her murder since 2011, but finally managed to carry it out in July last year.
Charlene is said to have been strangled to death in Elim – a town not too far away from Bredasdorp, where several murders of young women have taken place in recent years.
The two men were convicted of seven charges last week, including murder, housebreaking, robbery and obstructing justice.
Charlene’s sisters, Alicia and Alexa Jooste, recall the experience in court:
According to Charlene October’s loved ones, witnessing the sentencing was a bittersweet moment for them. Image: Caitlin Maledo
