Two life sentences for De Kock

Colonel Eugene de Kock, commander of apartheid South Africa's notorious Vlakplaas police hit squad, was sentenced to life twice over and more than 200 years at the end of a 22-month trial.

It is weeks since De Kockwas found guilty of 89 charges, including six murders. The atrocities included the killing of Vlakplaas askaris (black counter-ANC spies) and ANC activists. The lengthy plea in mitigation which followed was designed to ensure that if he was going down, his former masters were going too. De Kock's evidence has led to the subpeonaing of several police generals to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.