The State on Monday asked the Western Cape High Court to sentence former policeman, Marius Van der Westhuizen to 25 years in jail for killing his three children.

The court was due to hand down sentence on Thursday.

Van der Westhuizen shot his children as they slept in their beds in July 2006.

During final arguments, his defence counsel informed the court that the South African Police Service was partly to blame for the convicted killer's actions.

Milton De La Harpe went out of his way to describe his client's state of mind, before and during the triple murder.

Van der Westhuizen was described as a depressed man who received very little support from police during a time when he experienced enormous stress.

The State countered, saying the former policeman should have known better.

State Prosecutor, Morne Julius argued that, as a father, Van der Westhuizen should have protected his children.