KHULEKANI Xulu (28) of Malangeni has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for murder and three years imprisonment for theft by the Pietermaritzburg High Court. The sentence for theft is to run concurrently with that of murder. He was sentenced to a further eight years imprisonment for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
In the early hours of March 2, 2013 Xulu was driving along a road in Swanini Ward, Malangeni when he got into an argument with Thembinkosi Eric Mzimela (27) who was walking with his girlfriend and another woman. Xulu fired two shots at Mzimela, killing him. He drove off then returned to fire another shot at Mzimela before robbing his girlfriend of her handbag and fleeing the scene.
Later the same morning, Xulu was arrested and charged with being in unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Police seized a 9mm pistol which was found hidden in the car. A magazine, four rounds of ammunition and Mzimela’s girlfriend’s handbag were also recovered from the car.
