Chances for lesser sentences for the duo convicted in the Turnrite Mall cash in transit robbery case have been denied after prosecutors advised court that they have previous convictions.
This after the mitigation for both Mothusi Matomela and Thapelo Lekobe involved in the P2.1 million incidents hit a snag yesterday before the Broadhurst Magistrate Court. The quartet of Matomela, Lekobe, Mzwandile Mazibuko and Elliot Ntshalintshali has all been found guilty of all the charges they were facing. They are convicted for unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of stolen goods outside the country and illegal entry into the country for both Mazibuko and Ntshalintshali. The two’s chances of a lesser sentence went outside the window when State prosecutor, Ambrose Mubika, revealed that Matomela and Lekobe have all served sentences before. “Matomela has had two previous convictions dating back far back from January 1999 and November 2007 for stealing a motor vehicle and robbery,” Mubika told the court.
Lekobe suffered the same fate as Matomela as the State revealed that he too has previous convictions. “Lekobe too has had convictions for stealing, unlawful wounding and possession of dangerous weapons dating back to the year 2002 and 2010,” the prosecutor added. Mubika urged the court to consider these past sentences when delivering the sentences for the two convicts. However, Matomela’s defence attorney, Oagile Mosepele pleaded with the court not to be influenced by the previous convictions as they are outdated when delivering the sentence. “We come before this court and plead with this court that this is a case where justice can be tempered with mercy and we pray for leniency when passing the sentence,” Mosepele said. For his part, Lekobe who represents himself did not contend the State’s submissions that he has previous convictions.
Meanwhile, the State said for the two foreign convicts, the court can consider them as first time offenders as their records do not show any previous convictions. Their defence attorney, Nkosana Ngwenya, has since filed a written mitigation with the magistrate. Following the mitigation, Magistrate Goabaone Lesedi-Rammapudi is set to deliver her sentence on September 5 while the quartet will remain in custody until then.
