A man was convicted of contravention of the Domestic Violence Act and premeditated murder of his ex-girlfriend, Precious Nomthandazo Mnguni (30), in the Mpumalanga High Court recently.

The convict, Ramoula Vernon Brown (45), from eDwaleni Trust in KaBokweni, Mbombela, and the victim had been in a romantic relationship and had a child together.

The Mpumalanga NPA spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, says, “After the breakup, Brown started following Mnguni and assaulting her. As a result, she successfully applied for a protection order against him. Some of the conditions set by the court were that Brown not  assault Mnguni and not enter her homestead.

“On the early morning of August 21, 2021, he went to her house with a petrol canister. He waited for her to come out of the house. He attacked her, poured petrol over her, forced her to drink it, and then set her alight.

“The victim’s mother heard her daughter screaming and went to investigate, only to find the accused standing over her. She grabbed the accused, trying to protect her daughter, but was overpowered. The accused fled the scene, leaving the mother trying to extinguish the fire using water. The victim was taken to Themba Hospital, where she succumbed to her burn wound injuries four days later.”

In court, Brown pleaded not guilty, instead, he gave contradictory evidence and made no mention of his setting Mnguni alight.

“The senior state advocate led evidence from the deceased’s mother, who saw the victim burning. Another witness testified that he had seen the accused holding the petrol canister days before the incident took place. He said the same canister he saw the accused carrying was the one found on the crime scene,” says Nyuswa.

Judge Takalani Ratshibvumo says in respect of all the charges the accused was facing, the court was satisfied that the state’s case was proven beyond reasonable doubt and found the accused guilty as charged.

The matter was postponed to Monday for the probation officers’ report.