FAMILIES of the people injured when an East London man went on a shooting rampage two years ago, which left one person dead, yesterday expressed shock and disappointment at a Port Elizabeth High Court judge’s decision to give him a suspended sentence.

Steven Romer, 51, claimed he could not recall the shootings and had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gavin du Mont, 41, and attempted murder of Karen Heuer, 27, and Ernest Janse, 56, in Port Elizabeth in October 2007.

After convicting him on all counts, Judge Chris Jansen sentenced Romer to 10 years’ imprisonment, suspended for five years on condition he did not commit the same offences within the period of suspension. He may not leave his residential area.

Jansen also gave Romer a correctional supervision sentence of three years, in which he will have to perform community services for 16 hours a month at the Beacon Bay police station in East London.

Romer was ordered to undergo programmes, including life skills, orientation and individual psychotherapy. He is to abstain from alcohol and drugs.

Jansen said he was of the view that justice would not be served if he sent Romer to prison. “I believe it would be unfair to send you to prison for crimes you can’t remember due to the medication you took.”

He said he had also taken into account the fact that Romer had taken responsibility for his actions by going to a rehabilitation centre in KwaZulu Natal.

The fact that Romer had also maintained sobriety and was currently employed in East London counted in his favour, Jansen said.

His decision was however rejected by the victims’ families, including Heuer, who was shot in the neck with the bullet exiting through her right jaw.

Heuer broke down shortly after Jansen passed sentence. “I can’t tell you how I feel right now. I wanted him to get a jail sentence.”

An emotional Heuer said it would be a long road for her and her family as she still had to go for several procedures and surgery so far had put her in financial distress.

“I don’t know how I’m going to cope.”

Her sister, Tarry Gouwer, said: “It’s been a long two years for us. We now have to face him, because East London is small.”

She said she had already run into Romer at the movies in East London, where their family is based.

Du Mont’s sister, Geraldine Williams, said she was not pleased with the sentence. “Romer didn’t get what he deserves. Justice was not served.”

She said the family would, however have to live with the court’s decision.

The deadly spree, in peak-hour traffic, started in Lorraine and then moved to Sunridge Park and Kempston Road before Romer was finally arrested in Linkside.

During his journey of destruction he shot indiscriminately at various passersby, as well as a police van.

Romer was arrested after members of the flying squad surrounded his red Mazda MX6 after a high- speed car chase through Newton Park that ended at the corner of Carnoustie Crescent and Wychwood Avenue. Police fired at the car in an attempt to get the driver to stop. It ground to a halt riddled with bullet holes.