On Thursday (February 15), the Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced 34-year-old Hlakaniphane Miya to a lengthy prison term for the murder of a Ladysmith Tactical Response Team (TRT) officer.
On the evening of March 8, 2014, Constable Sithembiso Sifiso Yende (38) was at his home in Ezakheni when he received a call for help from one of his neighbours.
The accused and two others, who have since died, had forced their way into the neighbour’s house. Constable Yende went to aid the neighbour and the suspects shot at him.
Constable Yende managed to fire back, injuring Miya in the lower torso. Sadly, Constable Yende died at the scene.
The suspects fled and Miya sought medical attention in Pietermaritzburg under a false name. A manhunt for the three suspects was undertaken and they later handed themselves over to police.
The case came to its conclusion on Thursday, with the last surviving accused, Hlakaniphane Miya, being sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment for the murder of Constable Yende, 10 years for possession of an unlicensed firearm and five years for the kidnapping of the neighbour. The sentences are to run concurrently.
The case was investigated by the Hawks.
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