Judge André le Grange found the 35-year-old Van der Walt guilty of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances but acquitted him on a charge of kidnapping, saying the State had not proved that Heyns, a paediatrician, had been hijacked and then taken to a notorious gay prostitution hot spot in the Strand.
The doctor went missing on May 22, 2013, after leaving his brother’s house at about 8.20pm. His body was found in a shallow grave on the Strand beachfront eight days later.
The judge described Van der Walt’s version of events as "unconvincing".
Judge le Grange said despite Van der Walt admitting that he had killed the doctor, his testimony was littered with contradictions, fabrications and lies.
