Tsutsumani man receives lengthy prison sentence for attempted murder of motorist

The Alexandra Magistrates’ Court sentenced 23-year-old Tsutsumani resident, Emmanuel Mtshali, to 18 years in prison for the attempted murder of 50-year-old Limpopo motorist, Lewis Bornman, in February last year.

Although his sentence entailed 18 years behind bars, six years of the sentence were commuted and Mtshali will only serve 12 years.

Mtshali was found guilty of shooting the victim, who had stopped at a red traffic light at the intersection of Zenia Avenue and Marlboro Drive in Marlboro, as he was heading towards the N1 highway on his way back to Limpopo.

The court heard that at 1pm on the day, the victim who was checking his navigation system while his Renault Scenic’s windows were open, felt a firearm press against his head. Mtshali then threatened the victim, stating that he would kill him. At the same time, another suspect also pointed a firearm at the motorist from the passenger side’s open window.

The suspect on the driver’s side cocked the gun three times, but the firearm failed to discharge. The motorist then closed the window pinning the suspect’s hand and gun in-between the window and frame. This forced the other gunman to back off and flee the scene as the accomplice’s gun now pointed at him.

The suspect managed to pull his hand and firearm free and shot twice at the car but missed the motorist. One bullet shattered the back window and the other became lodged in the door. The motorist managed to drive off and reported the incident at Sandton Police Station.

While at the police station, fingerprints were taken from the vehicle which led to the accused’s arrest, with the help of informers.

The second suspect is still at large.