Cop killers sentenced to life in prison
The Mpumalanga High Court sentenced two men who were found guilty of the murder of a police officer, the late Sgt Thembisile Ndlovu (41), and her husband Jabulani Khoza (46), to life imprisonment.
Freeman Thulani Maisena (33) and Martin Mohlala (23) were sentenced on September 4.
They were found guilty on all charges and were each sentenced to three life terms for the murder of the couple, as well as for the murder of one of the accused Mandla Sambo (35), who died during the shoot-out.
They were each handed an additional 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, a further five years for possession of a firearm and three years for possession of ammunition.
They were also sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for discharging firearm in a public place. The couple was attacked by the men while sleeping in their home in Mkhuhlu Trust in December 2018.
The court heard that Maisena, Mohlala and Sambo broke into their home and shot at them. Ndlovu retaliated and fatally wounded Sambo. She was killed on the scene, while her husband died on the way to hospital.
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It was testified in court that the murderers fled the scene using the couple’s vehicle, which was later found abandoned along the road at Mkhuhlu. Maisena and Mohlala were arrested on January 5, 2019 at their hideout in Mhluzi following a probe by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team.
During their arrest, they were found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunitions. Maj Gen Zodwa Mokoena, the provincial head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga, applauded the multidisciplinary team for their investigation techniques husband Jabulani Khoza (46), to life imprisonment. Freeman Thulani Maisena (33) and Martin Mohlala (23) were sentenced on September 4.
They were found guilty on all charges and were each sentenced to three life terms for the murder of the couple, as well as for the murder of one of the accused Mandla Sambo (35), who died during the shoot-out.
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They were each handed an additional 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, a further five years for possession of a firearm and three years for possession of ammunition. They were also sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for discharging firearm in a public place.
The couple was attacked by the men while sleeping in their home in Mkhuhlu Trust in December 2018. The court heard that Maisena, Mohlala and Sambo broke into their home and shot at them. Ndlovu retaliated and fatally wounded Sambo. She was killed on the scene, while her husband died on the way to hospital.
It was testified in court that the murderers fled the scene using the couple’s vehicle, which was later found abandoned along the road at Mkhuhlu. Maisena and Mohlala were arrested on January 5, 2019 at their hideout in Mhluzi following a probe by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team.
During their arrest, they were found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunitions. Maj Gen Zodwa Mokoena, the provincial head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga, applauded the multidisciplinary team for their investigation techniques.
