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Child Killer Sentenced to 50 Years on Victim’s 14th Birthday

By Mahira Duval

Images: supplied

SELF-ADMITTED gang hitman and child murderer, Cole Nel, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison by the Wynberg Regional Court.

Emotions ran high yesterday as the family of the murdered 11-year-old Jordan Brown learned of the sentence on what would have been his 14th birthday.

Jordan, alongside his gang leader father Cheslin Nelson, was shot in a barrage of bullets when Nel allegedly stormed into Nelson’s Lavender Hill residence in September 2022.

Cape Town 7-12-2022 This was disclosed during the bail hearing for the suspected hitman, Cole Nel, following the gang-related shooting of Jordan’s father, Cheslin Nelson, in Lavender Hill. Photo supplied

The Grade 5 student from Prince George Primary School was visiting his father’s residence on Shepherd Way when Nel reportedly entered and began firing at those inside.

Cape Town 4-9-22 Jordan Calvin Brown, 11 years old from Lavender Hill, was shot and killed while visiting his father. Photo by Leon Knipe

He was later put on trial at the Regional Court, facing two counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and charges related to firearms.

In his plea, Nel confessed to going to the gang’s headquarters where he alleged that gang members were preparing tik and Mandrax intended for distribution that day.

He stated that he felt humiliated by Nelson and claimed the shooting was an act of revenge after he purportedly went to prison for a crime he did not commit.

During sentencing, Magistrate Pillay did not hold back, criticizing Nel for shooting Jordan at close range.

The magistrate remarked: “Upon reviewing the post-mortem report of Jordan Brown, it is evident that the accused must have been facing the child when he fired the fatal shot to his head, demonstrating a complete disregard for the life of a young individual.”

Nel received a life sentence for the murders, 15 years for the attempted murders, eight years for unlawful possession of a firearm, and two years for illegal ammunition possession.

Pillay explained that she chose to impose a joint sentence for both murder and attempted murder, resulting in a total of 50 years.

Cape Town 7-12-2022 This is Jordan’s father, Cheslin Nelson. This information surfaced during the bail hearing of the alleged hitman, Cole Nel, after the gang-related killing of Jordan’s father, Cheslin Nelson, in Lavender Hill. Photo supplied

In an interview with the Daily Voice, a spokesperson for Jordan’s family expressed: “This is the best news. Today marks what would have been his 14th birthday, and we are overwhelmed with emotion because he was due to start high school this year.”



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