In a plea bargain agreement with the South African court I pleaded guilty to the three murder charges I faced and received a three-year house arrest sentence at my home in Cape Town.
I know there will be many people disappointed that I accepted a plea bargain, and did not go to trial. If I had done this I may have been found not guilty, and thereby lead to a law change. However, I was facing three life sentences in prison and the stakes were too high. I have three young children and my children want a father not a martyr.
I want to thank the thousands of people in South Africa and around the world who have sent messages of support and encouragement. The nine months since my arrest has been a harrowing time for me and my family, and this support has made it bearable.