The Durban waiter who pleaded guilty to the murder of businessman Nhlanhla Gasa is appealing against his 30-year sentence.
|||Durban - The Durban waiter who pleaded guilty to the murder of businessman Nhlanhla Gasa is appealing against his 30-year sentence, arguing the court did not give regard to the overwhelming mitigating factors.
Legal aid attorney Hycenth Mlotshwa, acting for Mbulelo Arthur Ntlauzana, 25, confirmed he would file submissions for an appeal.
Ntlauzana was sentenced by Durban regional magistrate Anand Maharaj last week.
Gasa, a the father of four – among them TV personality Noni Gasa and Miss South Africa 1997 Mbali Gasa – was murdered on March 26 at his home in uMhlanga.
His body, with 12 stab wounds, was found floating under the John Ross Bridge near the Tugela River that same day. His burnt-out Jaguar XF was also found.
Ntlauzana, in his plea statement to the Durban Regional Court, had said Gasa, whom he considered a mentor, had tried to assault him when he spurned his sexual advances.
Gasa had tried to assault him with a whiskey bottle and a scuffle ensued which resulted in him stabbing Gasa several times in his chest, head and back, he said.
After he had pleaded, Ntlauzana offered a tearful apology to Gasa’s family.
Mlotshwa, who will file his written submission in the appeal in two weeks’ time, said yesterday the sentence was too harsh. He would submit that Ntlauzana was a first offender who had shown remorse.
“The court erred by not giving regard to the overwhelming mitigating circumstances,” Mlotshwa said.
rizwana.umar@inl.co.za
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