Death sentence for murder accused Facebooker

Lebogang Mosikare | Thursday July 30, 2015 14:53

 

High Court judge, Modiri Letsididi delivered the ultimate punishment on Uyapo Poloko, saying there were no extenuating circumstances that could reduce the 35-year-old’s blameworthiness.

Poloko was convicted of killing Vijeyadeyi Kandavaranam on January 25, 2010 at Ntshe location in Francistown, during which he also attempted to kill her husband, Balasingnam.

He stole two Nokia cellphones and P3,500 during the offence.

Letsididi sentenced Poloko to 12 years in jail for the attempted murder charge and 10 years for the robbery.  The two sentences will run concurrently until his execution.

“He used violence when he committed the offences,” said Letsididi.

“He was neither drunk nor provoked when he committed the offences. He was also not acting in self-defence.”

The judge added: “The aggravating factors in these matters also heavily weigh against the accused. He was motivated by greed and cruelty to commit the crimes. 

The crimes were committed in a brutal and ruthless manner because he strangled the deceased. Strangulation by nature leads to a slow and painful death.

 In all the circumstances I am unable to find any extenuating circumstances in the conviction of murder”.

Poloko will have the time he spent in custody awaiting trial taken into account for the attempted murder and robbery sentences.  He was also advised to apply to the Court of Appeal in respect of the convictions.

The judgment ended a high profile case in the city, during which Poloko posted on Facebook on October 15, 2014 an enigmatic and ill-fated message.

“This is my last message. I thank everybody for being there for me,” he posted after appearing at the Lobatse High Court before his bail was revoked.

In another post, Poloko said: “Today I am facing the most difficult challenge of my life at Lobatse”.

Poloko’s Facebook profile shows that he studied counselling at the Tonota College of Education, a fact also corroborated by court documents.