Mthatha - A man convicted of murdering his 24-year-old girlfriend was on Tuesday sentenced in the Butterworth Magistrate's Court to 20 years behind bars, said Eastern Cape police.
Seven years of the sentence were wholly suspended for five years on condition that he was not convicted of a similar offence.
Nkosinam Xabadiya, 29, was arrested after he fatally stabbed Sandiswa Mhlawuli as they travelled on the back of a bakkie in December last year, said Captain Jackson Manatha.
“The accused wanted the cellphone of the deceased with the intention of reading some messages,” Manatha said in a statement.
“The deceased refused and it was at that stage that the accused drew his knife and stabbed the deceased several times while the bakkie taxi was in motion.”
She died on the scene.
A third person who was with them at the back of the vehicle caught the attention of the driver when she tried to jump from the moving bakkie.
The driver then stopped the vehicle and Xabadiya jumped out and fled.
“He was chased by the three young men who were walking along the N2 road,” said Manatha.
He was caught and handed over to the Dutywa police where he was charged with murder.
Xabadiya was convicted last month.
Sapa