A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison by the Estcourt Regional Court after pleading guilty to the murder of his ex-girlfriend.

Northern Natal News reports that the couple had been in a relationship and shared three young children. The deceased had reportedly ended the relationship due to alleged ongoing abuse.

On the day of the incident, in May, an argument broke out between the two after the girlfriend returned from Pietermaritzburg. The accused, who was armed with his licensed firearm, opened fire on her at the Estcourt taxi rank, emptying the entire magazine and killing her at the scene. He later handed himself over at the police station.

During sentencing, the court heard victim impact statements from the deceased’s family, who described the deep trauma and lasting impact of the crime, including the burden of caring for the children left behind.

The accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the sentence, reaffirming its commitment to combating gender-based violence and femicide.

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.