Ex-cop sentenced for Winklespruit murder
As the magistrate passed the sentence, she took into account that the deceased had punched the policewoman first.
NONHLANHLA Biyela, the former policewoman who shot and killed another motorist in a Winklespruit road rage incident, was sentenced to an effective five years in prison by the Durban Regional Court recently.
In July, Magistrate Sharon Marks found Biyela (44) guilty of killing Uber driver Khethokuhle Mvuyane (26) in November 2020. The court heard that Mvuyane and Biyela had been driving on the N2 from Umgababa towards Winklespruit in their respective cars when the road rage incident occurred. The court heard that Biyela and Mvuyane kept trying to overtake each other and were exchanging insults.
Also read: Man killed during road rage incident in Winkelspruit
The court also heard that Biyela and her male cousin had pulled into the parking space at a Winklespruit shopping centre, and Mvuyane followed her. Upon alighting from his car, witnesses testified that Mvuyane approached Biyela, and more insults were exchanged before he punched her in the face.
It was at that point that Biyela’s cousin intervened, engaging in a fistfight with Mvuyane. As the two men fought, Biyela went into her car, retrieved her service pistol and shot Mvuyane in the back. After being shot, Mvuyane ran into one of the shops where he collapsed and died. The court also heard that after shooting Mvuyane, Biyela fled the scene with her cousin but was arrested later that day.
Magistrate Sharon Marks sentenced Biyela to 10 years imprisonment, with five years wholly suspended. The court took into consideration that Biyela had been punched first by Mvuyane and that she has small children. Magistrate Marks, however, said Biyela should have exercised restraint.
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