‘Cruel’ killers are jailed
assisting with the search for Lebona’s body. Evidence, including the cellphone which they robbed from the deceased and blood stained clothes, was found at the residence of the accused,” Tawana said.
They spent 18 months in police custody while awaiting trial.
Mosholodi, in his statement, apologised for his actions and asked for forgiveness from the deceased’s family.
While delivering sentence in the Northern Cape High Court yesterday, acting Judge Lawrence Lever, stated that the key question was whether substantial and compelling evidence was presented to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence.
Lever noted that the circumstances of Mosholodi and Moleme differed considerably.
“While Mosholodi pleaded guilty to the murder, showed remorse and even apologised to the deceased’s family for the crime, this must however be weighed up against the cruelty of the attack, as well as the painful nature of the Lebona’s death,” Lever said.
“Moleme showed no appreciation of the consequences of his actions and also no remorse or responsibility for what happened. I thus find no substantial or compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence with regards to this accused,” Lever added.
Lever further stated that he had to consider the crime, the offender, as well as the interest of society when handing down sentence.
“The evidence shows that the murder was extremely cruel and the medical report showed that Lebona sustained at least 49 stab wounds, and died as a result of blood loss. He was also made to walk a considerable distance while injured, begging for his life repeatedly. The pointless nature of his death further serves as an aggravating factor,” Lever said.
He then went on to find that with regard to Mosholodi, substantial or compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence were indeed presented, while this was not the case with Moleme.
Lever sentenced Mosholodi to 12 years’ imprisonment for the aggravated robbery and 22 years for the murder. The two sentences will run concurrently.
Moleme was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for the aggravated robbery and life imprisonment for the murder. These sentences will also run concurrently.
The Northern Cape police management yesterday applauded the investigating officer, Sergeant Futa, and the NPA and Department of Justice for “ensuring that hardened criminals do not see the light of day, by spending a jail term behind bars”.
“Both life imprisonment and 22 years’ imprisonment shall serve as retribution and a deterrent to criminals. Criminals should know and understand that they do not have space in our society, jail is a better place for them,” Tawana said.