Tebogo Msimanga |
The Johannesburg Magistrate Court on Thursday sentenced Mpho Thobane (31) to 20 years imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Accused doused her girlfriend Viwe Dalingozi with petrol and set her alight at Fashion Lofts flat corner Pritchard and Delvers Street on the 26th of October 2018.
Captain Xoli Mbele said Thobane had an argument with her and poured her with petrol while sleeping on the bed.
“ She was taken to hospital by an ambulance where she succumbed to her injuries and died on the 28th of October 2018. Accused was on the run until Johannesburg Central dedicated detectives apprehended him at Mokopane in Limpopo on the 30th of October 2018.”
Mbele added that this sentence is a result of a diligent work done by the investigating officer Sergeant Shabalala of Johannesburg Central detectives. “We hope this sentence will scare away would-be offenders from committing the same crime.”
Johannesburg Central Acting Station Commander Colonel Govender commended good work done by the investigating officer. He urged the women to report Gender-Based Violence as soon as possible.