Man gets 10 years for girlfriend�s murder

Lebogang Mosikare | Thursday August 21, 2014 12:17

 

The accused Kagiso Mogibelo had pleaded guilty to the charge. According to the facts of the case, Mokibelo killed Tirayaone Obokeng on December 3, 2010, in a fit of rage. The deceased was in company of friends.

When one of them inquired as to why Mokibelo wanted to talk to Obokeng,  he responded that he wanted hem to discuss the welfare of their child in private.

Although she initially refused, the deceased subsequently agreed to go with the accused.

The following day, whilst on patrol, the police saw Obokeng’s body soaked in blood and took it to Mahalapye Primary Hospital where she was certified dead on arrival. At the same time the body was found,  Mokibelo was with Obokeng’s family trying to tell them what he did the previous night.

According to the court papers, Mokibelo informed the parents that he had severely beaten the deceased and throttled her, and that he thought she was dead.  The police immediately arrived and arrested him.

When passing sentence on Tuesday, Solomon said that Mokibelo had been drinking Chibuku prior to the commission of the offence and therefore, regarded his alcohol consumption as an exceptional extenuating circumstance.

“The accused found the mother of his child sleeping in bed with another man. This angered him a lot...He was 19-years old at the time he committed the offence and youthful exuberance may have led him to commit the offence,” said Solomon.

“The accused was yet to complete his Bachelor of Tourism at Limkokwing University. He also has to support his young child,” said Solomon.

She added: “In sentencing the accused I take into consideration that the accused committed a very serious offence that can attract the death penalty or life in prison.

Balancing the interests of society against the accused’s interests, I sentence him to 10 years in jail which shall be backdated from the day he was first imprisoned. The accused has the right to appeal this sentence in six weeks if he is not satisfied with it.”