PISTORIUS COMMITTED MURDER – PHATHAPHATHA

MBABANE – Magistrate Phathaphatha Mdluli has said convicted South African athlete Oscar Pistorius committed murder.

Mdluli was presiding over a matter involving a member of Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF) who assaulted his girlfriend, a police officer.

Mdluli said he would not follow in the footsteps of South African Judge Thokozile  Masipa who presided over Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp’s matter. Mdluli said this when sentencing Mangaliso Simelane (soldier), who assaulted his police girlfriend Gabisile Dlamini.

Magistrate Mdluli also wondered why Simelane assaulted the police officer as he found her with a man in her own house.
“I am not going to do what Judge Thokozile Masipa did in the Oscar Pistorius matter. It’s unusual for a magistrate to criticise a judge’s decision, but I have done so.

“I have a right to do so as I went to a law school. That was not culpable homicide but it was murder,” said Magistrate Mdluli.
He then sentenced Simelane to 12 months imprisonment with an option of a fine which was fixed at E4 000.

Before sentencing, Simelane apologised to Dlamini and further made an undertaking that he would not commit a similar offence.
“I am sorry to Gabisile. I have just realised that what I did was wrong as in the process I disgraced the defence force.

“From now on I will be a responsible member of the society,” said Simelane.
Appearing for the Crown in this matter was Christopher Sibandze, while Chakazile Tsabedze interpreted.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: