A 35-year-old man has been found guilty of the murder of a 16-year-old boy in Simunye during April this year.
According to Sergeant Linkie Lefakane, Bekkersdal Police spokesperson, Mmeli Mphukane of Simunye in Westonaria was convicted and sentenced to an effective 15 years’ imprisonment for murder and three years’ for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm.
“A 16-year-old boy was walking along Tlhagisa Street in Simunye at night with his brother when they were accosted by three men, one of them armed with a pistol.
“The one who had a firearm accused them of being drug addicts and started assaulting both of them. A shot went off in the process and the victim was wounded in his head. He was pronounced dead on scene,” said Sergeant Lefakane.
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The matter was reported to the police and the case was assigned to Sergeant Sevha Shiviti who worked tirelessly to collect the evidence and arrest three suspects who were denied bail. The charges against two of the accused were later withdrawn.
Colonel Tinus Swart, Bekkersdal Police station commander, commended the prosecution team for finalising the case and ensuring that the accused serves a jail term.
“One life lost is one too many, we hope the family will get closure from this sentence,” Swart added.
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