The murder accused Mugiyo Ulrich Mabunda pleaded guilty of shooting and killing his wife, Tebogo Mabunda, outside their house in Stonehenge in May last year.

On Friday October 8, the defence attorney, Adv Johann de Necker, read a statement by his client Mabunda in front of the acting judge Cassim Moosa in the Mpumalanga High Court. The statement read, “I was a police officer for eight years and had been married to my wife for 10 years.

“On the day of the incident, my wife received a phone call which she answered outside.

“I was surprised as she usually takes her calls in front of me, but to me that was clear that the conversation was not meant for me to hear. I went outside to hear who she was talking to and she quickly dropped the call, but I had already heard that she was speaking to her boyfriend. That caused me a lot of anger. I fired several shots at my wife and tried to end my life by firing shots at myself too. I request a minimum of 15 years be imposed on me.”

The state prosecutor, Moeng Molatudi, said this plea was rejected and requested that another witness be called to the stand.

The trial continued and Tersia Marshall, the deceased’s attorney, took the stand. In her statement she said on the day in question Tebogo had been talking to her over the phone when she suddenly heard two loud sounds and the call ended.

“While talking to her, she said her husband attempted to assault her again. After the call was cut off, I tried to call her back, however, the phone rang unanswered. I also saw a message in one of the local groups that I am a member of, stating that they had heard gunshots in their neighbours’ home. This is because I am also a ward councillor. I then got into my car and drove to Tebogo’s home; that is when I was told that she was shot,” she said. This witness also said Tebogo was planning to divorce her husband.

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Tebogo’s family members and friends have been picketing outside the court since the trial started.

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On Friday October 8, Monica Nyuswa, the spokesperson for the NPA, said the case had been postponed to Monday October 11.

“The trial has been postponed for continuation. The son of the deceased will be the next witness,” she said.

Read more in the next print edition of Mpumalanga News.