Man stabbed 14 times
The magistrate found that both men had contributed to the 24-year-old's death.
EMMANUEL Ngidi (24) died after being stabbed 14 times in Margate in 2013.
After killing him, Mlungisi Zungu, (24), then broke Ngidi’s leg as he lay dead on the ground.
Zungu was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, while his friend, Sifiso Hlangedi, (29), was given five years by Port Shepstone Regional Magistrate Nonesi Dlamini on Monday this week.
Zungu and Hlangedi’s Legal Aid Attorney argued that there were different degrees of participation played in the offence.
Hlangedi’s role in the murder was that he had held Ngidi down and was seen with a stick.
Zungu had actually stabbed Ngidi multiple times, which was the cause of his death.
The court heard that a fight broke out after Ngidi was suspected of stealing money and drugs.
“I was confused and I don’t know how he got stabbed. I was angry, but it was not my intention to stab him. He stabbed me first,” said Zungu, in the witness box.
After being questioned by Magistrate Dlamini about what had caused his rage, Zungu finally confessed to smoking dagga that morning.
Zungu and Hlangedi, both from Gamalakhe, apologised to the court and Ngidi’s family.
However, Regional Court prosecutor Sharmilla Chinnasamy pointed out that the gallery was packed with the accused’s supporters and that there was nobody in the courtroom from the deceased’s family to hear their apologies.
Magistrate Dlamini said that the court had to send out a clear message that barbaric actions would never be tolerated.
“It’s the first time that I have heard of the brutal killing of a human in this fashion,” she said.
She said both accused had contributed to the death of Ngidi.
“Hlangedi assisted Zungu by pinning Ngidi down and using an iron rod to hit him when he was dead. The only difference is that one used a knife and one used an iron rod.”
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