The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the two life sentences handed down to a man convicted of killing a Pretoria couple.

The High Court in Pretoria found 37-year-old Raymond Smith guilty of murdering a couple and stabbing their son during a robbery.

Smith had targeted them after seeing the listing of the family’s R2.7 million house online. He also received a three-year prison sentence for assault and eight years for attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The sentences will run concurrently.

NPA Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana says, “Smith, who was pretending to view a house that was put up for sale, stabbed and killed the couple that was staying in the premises with their elderly parents. In court, he asked for leniency; however, the state successfully argued for life imprisonment.”