A convicted murderer and rapist was sentenced to two life terms plus 25 years by the Pongola High Court.
|||Durban - A convicted murderer and rapist was sentenced to two life terms plus 25 years on Friday by the Pongola High Court, KwaZulu-Natal police said.
Tinini Ngema, 26, was sentenced to life for murder, life for rape, 15 years for house-breaking and theft, and 10 years for kidnapping, said Captain Thulani Zwane.
He broke into the home of Nkosingiphile Nxumalo, 22, while she was sleeping on October 11, 2011, and abducted her. He also stole her belongings, said Zwane.
Later in the day, Nxumalo was found unconscious in a bush. She had been stabbed several times.
“The Esikhawini police attended to the scene and the victim, who was still talking at that time, was taken to the nearest hospital for treatment,” Zwane said.
“She was left by her attacker thinking that she was dead. A case of kidnapping, attempted murder, and rape was opened for further investigation.”
Nxumalo died seven days later. Before she died, she identified her attacker to the police. Ngema was arrested on October 17.
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Mmamonnye Ngobeni welcomed the sentence and said it would send a strong message to “those criminals who kill (members of) our community”. - Sapa