Police officer pleads
guilty to murder
MBOMBELA – A former police officer has been
sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment for shooting the mother of his
four-year-old son and for leaving his son near the road.
Thobile
Mlangeni | 5 September 2014 06:00
MBOMBELA – A former police officer has been sentenced to 17 years’
imprisonment for shooting the mother of his four-year-old son and for leaving
his son near the road.
Richwell Request Nyakane (31) who has served as a constable in the SAPS
for eight years, was sentenced by the Gauteng High Court on August 28 for the
crimes which he committed on March 10, 2013.
He pleaded guilty to both crimes. In his pleading statement, the court
heard that on the day in question, Nyakane left his home in Bushbuckridge for
Pilgrim’s Rest where he fetched his ex-lover, Ms Tebogo Virginia Mashele and
their son.
They drove towards Fairview Mine when an argument ensued between the
two, with Mashele alighting from the car.
Nyakane then shot her four times in the back with his service pistol
after which he left the child unattended next to the road.
The state prosecutor, Mr John Maenga told the court that the accused initiated a plea bargain and pleaded guilty which was a sign of remorse and he fully co-operated with the police and investigating officer.
The state prosecutor, Mr John Maenga told the court that the accused initiated a plea bargain and pleaded guilty which was a sign of remorse and he fully co-operated with the police and investigating officer.
On passing the sentence, the judge, Mr Francis Legodi mentioned that
although Nyakane did not indicate the nature of the quarrel that led to the
shooting, the fact that the victim was shot in the back, suggested that she
might have been running for her life.
He then sentenced him to 15 years’ for the murder and five years’ for
abandoning his child alongside the road, of which three years would run
concurrently with the murder sentence.
The accused was ordered to compensate
Mashele’s family with an amount of R 5 000 for the expenses they incurred
during the funeral.
Nyakane was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
