Durban - A KwaZulu-Natal man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for a double murder of a police officer and woman he was assisting in a domestic violence matter, provincial police reported on Friday.
Mfaniseni Snotty Khumalo, 28, was convicted and sentenced on two counts of murder and robbery by the Madadeni High Court on Friday, police said.
“He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the first count of murder and twenty two years imprisonment for the second count of murder as well as five years imprisonment for robbery,” said police.
The sentencing stemmed from an incident that occurred when Constable Siphamandla “Power-Lord” Mgaga, 28, was meeting his relative, Nonkululeko Mgaga, 28, on Murchison Street in Ladysmith on 29 April 2014 to assist with a domestic violence situation.
“The woman had previously been having problems with her boyfriend, Khumalo, 28. Just after Nonkululeko got into the vehicle, Khumalo approached the vehicle and fired at the occupants inside with a 9mm firearm licensed to him. Nonkululeko was fatally wounded in the head while Constable Mgaga suffered a serious gunshot would to the chest. He later died in hospital,” police said.
Before fleeing the scene Khumalo stole his girlfriend’s cellphone and went into hiding for several days before eventually handing himself over to police at Colenso.
The case was investigated by the Hawks in Newcastle which led to his conviction and sentencing.
“A large percentage of our murders are as a result of random acts of domestic violence such as these. We are glad that the courts have imposed an appropriate sentence that fits the crime,” Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni said.
African News Agency