Cop killers sentenced 42 years in prison

Kwanele Mncina, Lwazi Sithole and Andile Simelane were charged with the murder of Jabulani Matsenjwa who they stoned to death on August 21, 2009.

They were further charged with attempted murder after it was alleged that they hit Londi Vilakati with a stone on the jaw, with intent to kill him.

The accused were sentenced to 14 years imprisonment each.

Half of the sentence was suspended for a period of three years on condition they were not convicted of an offence where violence was an element.

The matter came before Judge Jacobus Annandale. Mncina was represented by Mzwandile Dlamini, Leo Gama appeared for Sithole and Nelisiwe Dlamini represented Simelane. Bryan Magagula represented the Crown.

"The sentences are backdated to your respective dates of arrest.

Tsepo Ndlovu, the accomplice witness is discharged from the offence because he had satisfactorily answered all questions," Judge Annandale held.

The accused changed their pleas from that of not guilty and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of culpable homicide and assault with intent to cause grievous body harm, in count two.

Three witnesses, including the accomplice witness, Ndlovu, were paraded by the Crown to prove its case beyond a shadow of doubt.

It was agreed that the accused were stopped by the police along the Siphocosini road and they did not heed police’s instruction and a chase ensued between them.

The accused said they dropped off the motor vehicle at KaNyama and ran away. Vilakati apprehended them and beat them up with open hands.

"We then ran into the fields where from there, we threw stones at the police and one of them was severely hurt. We left him lying on the ground and the other officer was able to flee the scene," the statement read in part. Matsenjwa died while undergoing treatment at Mbabane Government Hospital.

COMMENTS:

- These people will be out of jail in less than 3 years from now considering that each was sentenced to 14 years and half of the sentence was suspended. They have already served 4 years! The sentence itself is not commensurate to the crime committed considering that a human life was lost and he was a law enforcement agent! It doesnt matter that eventually they pleaded guilty to culpable homicide but this is not a deterrent sentence by any standards!
October 24, 2012, 5:00 pm Sydney S Maseko in Durban

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