On New Years Day this year, a murder occurred in the Blue bank area which falls in the Besters Policing precinct.
The deceased Thandi Mabizela (49) who had suffered a stroke and was left challenged. Unable to use the right side of her body she remained at home while members of her household attended a traditional function in the area.
Osborn Sphamandla Mabizela (36) the accused in this case had cunningly done his homework. He acquired information from a young member of the the Mabizela family. The information stated that the deceased had an amount of cash in the her house.
The amount was later established to be R8760.
On the day in question he disappeared from the function siting different reasons as to where he was going. He found the deceased alone as he had planned.
He assaulted her brutally and then staged a suicide scene by hanging the body of the deceased. He helped himself to the cash and left. He was seen returning home by family members of the deceased who were unaware of what awaited them at home. They made the shocking discovery and immediately called the police.
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A quick check revealed that cash as well as a cell phone belonging to the deceased had been stolen. Sgt Mabaso the detective on standby attended to the crime scene. The fact that the deceased would not be able to hang herself even if she wanted to raised eye brows.
While interviewing family members Sgt Mabaso became aware of a suspicion which pointed to the accused. He wasted no time in approaching the accused.
On searching Osborn he found an amount of R60 in his pants pocket. A further search of his room resulted in R8700 being recovered in a speaker.
The circumstantial evidence was enough for Sgt Mabaso to arrest the accused. The cell phone of the deceased could not be found. On the following day the accused requested that he be taken home to collect his medication.
Cst Dlamini from the Besters detective service took him to get the medication. While at the premises Cst Dlamini recovered the deceased cell phone.
The case docket was placed on the roll and after several remands the case was finalized in the Ezakheni Regional court.
The accused was sentenced to 15 years for murder and 10 years for robbery with aggravated circumstances on Thursday 6 July 2017, the sentences are to run concurrently.
He will never be granted a firearm licence. The accused will effectively spend 20 years behind bars.
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