A man convicted of the murder of a Wentworth resident was sentenced to 10 years in prison at the Durban Magistrate’s Court recently.

Warren Samuel stood trial for the murder of Lorne Smith who was beaten with a wooden plank and sustained body injuries in March 2025.

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According to the investigating officer, Sergeant Sibonelo Nzama, Samuel attacked the deceased on Chamberlain Road in Wentworth.

The court heard that prior to the attack, Samuel and his accomplice went around Wentworth looking for the deceased whom he suspected of stealing his cellphone.

The court also heard that, when Samuel eventually found the deceased at a panel beater’s shop on Chamberlain Road, he grabbed him and repeatedly smashed his head against the wall.

“He then took a wooden plank and continued assaulting him. The accused and his accomplice left the scene with the deceased lying with severe injuries,” said Nzama.

Nzama said eye witnesses who knew the victim’s relatives, phoned his brother to inform him about the incident.

“Upon his arrival, he rushed the deceased to a nearby hospital, however, the victim died upon his arrival at the hospital,” said Nzama.

A case of murder was opened at Wentworth police station.

“It took me a few days to gather the evidence that led me to Samuel’s place of residence. He was arrested on March 8, 2025. His accomplice was not arrested because there was no evidence that he took part in the murder,” he said.

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