An armed robbery occurred at Adam’s Store in Klipriver on 30 November 2003. Four men entered the store, threatened customers and the proprietor with firearms, assaulted the proprietor, and stole cash, cigarettes and goods. During the robbery a shot was fired, fatally wounding a bystander. Shortly thereafter, a security guard pursued the suspects and alerted the police. Four suspects were arrested in the vicinity, including Thabo Vincent Shilakwe, who was identified as one of the robbers and as being armed with a handgun. Physical evidence was recovered, including stolen goods, a shotgun and a 9mm Beretta pistol. Shilakwe made a formal pointing out to the police in which he described the robbery in detail and indicated where he had hidden the firearm. He was convicted in the Gauteng High Court of robbery, murder and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and sentenced under the minimum sentencing legislation. He appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeal against both conviction and sentence.