Rhino poacher sentenced to a lenghty imprisonment term
Last week, the Skukuza Regional Court convicted and sentenced Patrick Nkuna to 33 years and 3 months direct imprisonment for trespassing, rhino poaching, four counts of possession of illegal firearm and four counts of attempted murder.
The court heard that on 19 November 2015, the accused who is an illegal immigrant, illegally entered the Pretoriuskop area of Kruger National Park.
He shot and killed a black rhino. Fortunately, Nkuna was spotted by the Rangers after killing a black rhino and shot at a helicopter. The accused was eventually arrested after the helicopter managed to slow down.
READ: Five police among rhino poaching kingpins
During the trial, Advocate Ansie Venter led testimonies of a helicopter pilot and evidence of blades of a helicopter that was damaged during the shooting. Subsequently, the accused made admissions regarding the charges and was found guilty on 11 counts. Nkuna was sentenced to 33 years and 3 months of direct imprisonment.
The NPA welcomes the conviction and sentence with the hope that it will deter other –would be poachers who fall prey to protected environmental animals in the country.
