A 27-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison for murder by the Johannesburg High Court on Wednesday, police said.Captain Steady Nawa said Mvelo Thwala shot and killed Johan Fourie, 32, during an attempted robbery in Germiston in August 2007.
According to Nawa, Fourie was parked in his driveway talking to his brother and 12-year-old cousin, when Thwala with two other men pulled up behind him.
"Thwala and his accomplices came out of their car and tried to hijack Fourie's vehicle. Thwala shot Fourie, he fell on the ground. The three left the scene without taking anything."
Nawa said Fourie was rushed to hospital but he died on the way.
Thwala was arrested after investigations in September 2007 at his home in Tokoza on the East Rand.
One of his accomplices, Siphiwe Masinyane, 29. was arrested in December 2007.
On Wednesday, Judge Sal Dulker convicted and sentenced Thwala to life in prison for murder, and additional 15 years for attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances and to five years for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Dulker ordered that all the sentences must run concurrently with the life sentence and further declared Thwala unfit to carry a firearm, Nawa said.
Masinyane was also found guilty of murder. He was sentenced to 18 years in jail for murder, 15 years for attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances and five years for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.
His sentences would also run concurrently.
Nawa said the third man was still at large.
Source : Sapa /tk/ks
Date : 04 Mar 2009 16:35
