The Johannesburg High Court has convicted former Magaliesburg police Sergeant Brian Nocanda of the murder of The Joint Pub owner, Mlungisi Mthi.

Nocanda was sentenced last Friday.

According to West Rand police spokesperson Captain Solomon Sibiya, Nocanda was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for murder, eight years for attempted murder, and three years for assault.

At 01:15 on January 28 last year, Nocanda – who was stationed at Magaliesburg Police Station – came into the pub and started a fight with his girlfriend. He then pulled her outside the pub where he assaulted her.

“One of the bouncers tried to stop the altercation and the girlfriend managed to escape. The now-convicted former police officer left and later came back with a firearm. He fired several shots inside the pub’s premises, some shots directed at the pub owner. The pub owner was shot and later died in hospital,” says Sibiya.

Kagiso police detectives and members of the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit launched a manhunt for Nocanda, and a case of murder and attempted murder was opened.

Nocanda was apprehended the morning after the killing and charged accordingly.