Durban - A man who fatally stabbed his girlfriend 19 times went into a “trance” after becoming infuriated at finding her in bed with her lover.
Abdul Rahman, 26, was on Monday sentenced at the Durban Regional Court to 15 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to murdering Sphiliwe Zulu, the mother of his two children.
The murder happened on the night of November 22 at an informal settlement in Clairwood.
Rahman told the court in his written guilty plea that upon returning from visiting his mother, he found his girlfriend in bed with another man. This led to him bludgeoning her to death.
“I had been out on Saturday, November 22. When I returned home I found my girlfriend in bed with another man. He managed to flee. I assaulted her with an iron rod and proceeded to stab her several times with a screwdriver. I realise my actions were wrong and unlawful.”
The post-mortem report on his girlfriend, carried out by Dr Ashley Hammond at the Gale Street mortuary, reflected the following:
* Zulu suffered multiple stab wounds to the face, scalp and limbs , making a total of 19 stab wounds.
* She had deep scalp bruising and lacerations, multiple fractures to the middle and base of the skull, brain haemorrhaging, a large laceration to the liver and a broken upper tooth.
* She also suffered abrasions on her right thigh, calf and knee, with stab wounds on the elbow and ankle.
During arguments in sentencing, advocate Donald Somo, representing Rahman, told Magistrate Fariedha Mohamed that although his client had committed a serious offence, she should show a measure of mercy in her sentencing.
“He had two children with his girlfriend. When he returned home from visiting his ailing mother, he went into a trance state which infuriated him. By sentencing him to a lengthy period, the children will be deprived of both parents. We don’t want him to lose his moral fibre, but rather that he be rehabilitated,” Somo said.
Somo felt that a six-suspended sentence would be appropriate.
Prosecutor Calvin Govender said that the State was fighting against violence and abuse against women and Rahman had committed the heinous crime during the 16 days of activism. He said a wrong message could not be sent out to the community.
In passing sentence, magistrate Mohamed said that Rahman was a menace to society.
“Taking away someone’s life cannot be seen as cheap. Murder is an epidemic in South Africa and you stabbed her 19 times, which goes beyond the bounds of self-defence. Society is outraged by this behaviour.
“You deprived two children of a mother. You are a menace to society. You showed no mercy on the deceased, yet you ask the court to show mercy on you. The court is of the view that an example needs to be made,” she said.
Rahman moaned as he was led out of the dock. He made a five-minute reappearance after indicating he wanted to appeal his sentence.
The appeal was rejected by the magistrate.
Daily News