Victress Micky Ndovela (35), who was arrested and charged with the murder of her supervisor, Wendy Lee Travis (43) in September 2015 appeared in the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday this week.
Ndovela was sentenced to eight years’ direct imprisonment. The court took into account that she had two minor children. She had been granted bail of R1 000 in October 2015.
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At the time of the incident it was believed that the two women had had a fight, as both had sustained injuries. Police arrived at Nicholson Drive, Uvongo and found paramedics had declared Ms Travis dead at the scene.
It was heard in court that Ms Ndovela had been employed by a holiday letting company for more than a year and worked as one of the cleaners under the supervision of Ms Travis.
Ms Travis had discovered that items were going missing from the unit Ms Ndovela was in charge of cleaning. During the trial it came to light that, on that particular day, Ms Travis probably confronted the cleaner about the missing items. An altercation took place and Ms Travis was bludgeoned to death with a heavy-based frying pan.
The accused then reported to the security at the flats and to the police that Ms Travis was sexually assaulting her and that she was defending herself when she assaulted Ms Travis.
After a three-year trial the court concluded that her version was a lie and she was sentenced. The court took into account that she had two minor children and that a longer term in prison would be to the detriment of the children.
Senior Public Prosecutor, Sohana Moodley said the case was difficult as there were no eye witnesses and the state had to rely on circumstantial evidence to prove its case.
Regional Magistrate Johann Bester said the only reasonable inference that could be drawn from all the proven facts was that the accused had unlawfully killed Ms Travis.
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