THE Mtubatuba High Court convicted and sentenced 32-year-old Dumisani Christopher Mkhwanazi for murder and rape.
Mkhwanazi was handed two life sentences on Monday after he was found guilty of killing Philisiwe Promise Dlamini, also 32.
Dlamini told police that she had accepted a lift to eSikhawini near Empangeni with Mkhwanazi on the evening of 4 October 2013.
‘He drove her to nearby bushes where he raped her at gunpoint and robbed her of her belongings,’ said KZN police spokesman, Major Thulani Zwane on Tuesday.
‘She was left naked and ran to nearby houses for help.’
The investigation was conducted by the Empangeni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit, resulting in Mkhwanazi’s arrest on the same day.
‘While the case was still in court, the victim, Philisiwe Dlamini was ambushed and killed on 26 February this year,’ said Zwane.
A case of murder was opened with the Mtunzini Police, who uncovered that the accused had in fact handed his sister a note asking her to ‘look for a hitman’.
‘The suspect’s sister was used as a state witness, which brought about the successful conviction.’
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