A 70-year-old pensioner, Anthony Ball, convicted of murdering Dean Charnley in a road rage incident in 2022, has raised eyebrows after liking a tribute post on Facebook from Charnley’s son just six days after the incident. Ball was convicted in March 2025 for shooting and killing Charnley, a father of two, on the M13’s Everton Road turn-off in Kloof.
According to the South African Department of Justice, the sentence proceedings have been met with delays, which at one stage prompted the Pinetown Regional Court to issue a stay of warrant of arrest. During the ongoing sentencing proceedings on Thursday, clinical psychologist Philippa Styles maintained her opinion that Ball does not pose a risk to the community.
Road Rage Incident and Conviction
Ball’s conviction was a result of a thorough investigation, and the court heard that he had faced two counts of attempted murder and discharging a firearm about 16 years ago, though he was not convicted. The State prosecutor, Rowan Souls, questioned Styles about the sourcing of witnesses for her report, to which she confirmed they were provided by Ball and his legal team.
Styles explained that Ball’s ex-wife was unavailable for an interview due to illness. When asked if Ball and his legal team were paying her, Styles conceded that this was correct and also admitted she does not possess a medical degree. The prosecutor then asked Styles to define a person who enjoys witnessing the suffering of others, and she described them as typically psychopaths, lacking remorse and empathy, but insisted this definition did not apply to Ball.
Facebook Post Sparks Controversy
The introduction of the Facebook post by Charnley’s son sparked an objection from Ball’s lawyer, Advocate Gideon Scheltema SC, who argued it should have been introduced during the trial. Souls countered that the post was relevant not to the trial but to Styles’ report, which painted Ball as a good person. Magistrate Muntukayise Khumalo permitted the line of questioning, stating the court would later make a ruling.
Here are some key points about the case:
- Ball was convicted of murdering Dean Charnley in a road rage incident in 2022.
- The sentence proceedings have been met with delays, prompting the Pinetown Regional Court to issue a stay of warrant of arrest.
- Clinical psychologist Philippa Styles maintains that Ball does not pose a risk to the community.
- Ball had faced two counts of attempted murder and discharging a firearm about 16 years ago, though he was not convicted.
