A jealous convicted murderer is back behind bars after a vicious attack on his ex-girlfriend while on parole.
Last week, the Springbok Regional Court sentenced Jan “Blades” Maarman, 60, to 22 years of direct imprisonment for the attempted murder of his former partner, Lena Swartbooi, 46, in Bergsig, Springbok in 2024.
Maarman and Swartbooi, who have a 13-year-old son together, were previously in a co-habiting relationship.
The court heard that Maarman was a joller, engaging in multiple affairs and the relationship ended because he was very jealous, aggressive, controlling.
On 13 August 2024, after an argument over her new relationship, the accused viciously attacked Swartbooi, stabbing her multiple times on her face, arms, hands, back, and legs. This resulting in severe injuries, including fractures to her face and permanent loss of hand function.
After the attack, Maarman left her for dead, returned home, prepared for work, and proceeded with his day as if nothing had happened.
A J88 medical report confirmed that she had suffered life-threatening injuries and would never be able to work again due to the permanent damage inflicted.
During sentencing, the court noted that Maarman committed this crime while on parole for a previous murder conviction, in 2012 of a previous ex.
He was released on parole 28 October 2019 and his sentence would have expired on 22 September 2026.
In her ruling, Magistrate Numfeneko Mbalo stated: “This was a clear case of gender-based violence where the accused sought to kill his ex, simply because she had moved on.
“The attack was motivated by jealousy and was a brutal act of gender-based violence.”