JUST IN: Tshepo Rakoma’s killer sentenced to life imprisonment

POLOKWANE – The man responsible for the murder of Tshepo Rakoma (29) has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Josias Leboho was sentenced in the Limpopo High Court: Polokwane Division for the murder of his ex-fiancée who was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Shoprite Supermarket at the corner of Grobler and Landdros Maré streets on May 6, 2021.

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Following her murder, Leboho climbed on top of a building and threatened to commit suicide, however, negotiators convinced him otherwise and arrested him.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said during trial, Leboho told the court that he was on the scene to assist the mother of his children (Rakoma) and that she was killed by an unknown person.

“In aggravation of the sentence, the state advocate Malebo Maleka submitted that the accused did not abandon his plan to kill the deceased, even though he had many opportunities to do so. Maleka said the offence was premeditated and deserving of a life sentence. She further said that the fact that the accused paid a dowry for the deceased does not mean she was his property. The advocate concluded by saying that the accused never showed any remorse throughout the proceedings.” she said.

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In sentencing, Judge Griet Muller remarked that the offence was premeditated and it is a family tragedy.

“Judge Muller said the family will never see the deceased again because of the accused and further remarked that there are no substantial or compelling circumstances to justify a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence,” Malabi-Dzhangi said.

Leboho was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, three years for unlawful possession of firearm and one year of direct imprisonment for count of unlawful possession of ammunition.