A 26-year-old man was recently sentenced to life imprisonment in the Madadeni High Court.
Siyabonga Alfred Mzinyane stood accused of murder, kidnapping and housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery.
Mzinyane broke into a house in the Kirkintulloch area of Ladysmith on Febuary 1.
He robbed the residents of a cell-phone and cash, and then kidnapped 27-year-old Philile Precious Cele from the house. A case docket of house robbery and kidnapping was opened for investigation, and a search for the missing woman ensued.
Three days later, the decomposing body of the missing woman was found in the veld on a hilltop in the Roosboom area. She had sustained an open wound to her head. A murder docket was opened and was investigated along with the robbery docket.
A mere two days passed before the detective investigating the case, Captain BR Mntambo, arrested the suspect in the Ezakheni area. He was charged with all three crimes.
Once he appeared in court, he was remanded into custody and the case was placed on the role at the High Court in Madadeni.
On September 17, Mzinyane was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on the murder and kidnapping charges. The sentences are to run concurrently.
The accused was also deemed unfit to possess a firearm.
