The Pietermaritzburg High Court has sentenced a Port Shepstone man to 20 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend on Christmas Day last year.

The Witness reports that Nkosingphile Shozi (27) appeared in court yesterday, where he entered into a plea agreement with the state.

According to court papers, on December 25, Shozi intentionally killed Esti Valentia Sengane (26) near Bhobhoyi, south of Durban.

In the late evening of December 24, the deceased visited the accused at his residence for a sleepover. In the early hours of Wednesday, an argument broke out between them.

“The accused assaulted the deceased with a stick, hitting her repeatedly across her body, causing fatal injuries,” the court documents stated.

The cause of death was determined to be multiple blunt force trauma.

In his testimony, Shozi admitted the couple argued on Christmas Eve.

He claimed to have asked Sengane to leave, then assaulted her when she refused. He then went to sleep. Upon waking, he discovered she had died.

“He immediately called her family, and because he didn’t have enough airtime to call the police or ambulance, he ran to his cousin’s house, who made the call for him,” his defence lawyer said.

During sentencing, Judge Khosi Hadebe described the murder as barbaric and an act of control.

“The deceased is described as a bubbly and friendly person, loved by her family and neighbours – you have robbed them,” she said.

“From now on, your life is in your hands. You were already on the right path by studying and securing a future in employment, but you have marred it with this act.”

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