A man overcome with guilt swallowed rat poison in an attempt to take his own life after he strangled his girlfriend to death.

Argument leads to fatal attack

Thabang Hlalazonke (32), a Lesotho national, pleaded guilty to the murder of Morakabi Liepollo in the Madadeni Regional Court on February 16.
Argument leads to fatal attack

In his plea statement he said he and Liepollo were living together in Madadeni, and one night Liepollo confessed that she was in a sexual relationship with their landlord.

This upset Hlalazonke who started to pack a bag with his belongings to leave.

“While I was packing some condoms fell out of the bag and she said I must leave the condoms, she will use it with the landlord,” recalled Hlalazonke.

In a moment of rage, Hlalazonke strangled her to death.

Attempted suicide after the incident

Realising what he had done after Liepollo’s body went limp, he fled to his place of work where he swallowed rat poison.

“I woke up in hospital,” said Hlalazonke, who was arrested on July 28 after being discharged from hospital. He has been in custody since.

Accepting Hlalazonke’s guilty plea, presiding officer, Magistrate Kishore Komol, said that, while he committed a very serious offence, Hlalazonke took full responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty from the onset.

“After he committed the offence, he attempted to take his own life because he could not accept his actions. It shows that this offence has taken an emotional and psychological toll on the accused himself,” said Komol.

“He now has to live with what he did, knowing his girlfriend suffered at his hands.”

State prosecutor, Zama Zikalala, described the killing of women by their intimate partners as ‘a cancer in the community’.

Komol agreed that Hlalazonke’s actions deprived Liepollo of her right to life, existence, a future, and the possibility of having children of her own. He added, however, that no matter what sentence he imposes, it will not bring Liepollo back.

“Domestic violence and femicide is ravaging our country. Even the court roll today reflects the pandemic of violence against women. Not a day goes by that we don’t deal with this scourge …A scourge that appears to be damaging the very fabric of society,” said Komol, addressing Hlalazonke during sentencing.

“However, you pleaded guilty and did not waste the court’s time, and the fact that you consumed rat poison, while not condoning your actions, it shows that you realised the wrongfulness of your actions. It shows remorse.”

Komol, who found this to be a substantive factor to deviate from the minimum life sentence for murder, sentenced Hlalazonke to 20 years in prison.

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