POLOKWANE – The Polokwane High Court on Tuesday, 9 July sentenced Justice Mathume Tshehla (51) to life imprisonment plus a further 23 years imprisonment for the brutal murder of a pensioner in September 2017.
81-year-old Betty Phaswane Mosehla from Jane Furse area was murdered in her house in Vergelegen C Section in the early hours of the morning on 17 September 2017.
In a statement Police spokesperson, Constable Maphure Manamela explained that the body of the deceased was discovered in a pool of blood with multiple injuries throughout. The police were alerted and immediately started with their initial investigations which revealed that the suspect broke into her house while she was asleep, hacked her to death with an axe and also robbed her of a TV set and clothing.
Tshehla was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 15 years for robbery with weapon other than a firearm and eight years imprisonment for house breaking with the intent to rob.
The Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba, has welcomed the hefty sentences and commended the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Rakgomo Maila of the Saps Jane Furse, for his hard work and dedication in collecting all the evidence that resulted in the conviction.
“The conviction and sentencing of the accused is consequent to the meticulous and sterling investigative work by WO Maila who remained committed to this case even though the suspect was unknown,” Ledwaba concluded.
