7yrs no fine for killing friend over woman

MBABANE – A man who killed his friend who had accused him of taking his girlfriend on a marula brew drinking spree has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment without an option of a fine.

The sentence was issued by Judge Justice Mavuso on Friday. Nhlanhla Dlamini committed the offence on February 20, 2021 at Mabhodini, Ngwane Park. According to the charge sheet, he intentionally killed Siyabonga Doctor Nkabinde. Nhlanhla pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to culpable homicide and the Crown accepted his plea. Nkabinde died from a stab wound.

When the offence was committed, Nhlanhla returned home at night from drinking marula brew since noon, in the company of Nontobeo Pretty Mamba and Nolwazi Nontsikelelo Bhembe. The court was told that they had difficulty entering the house because Nkabinde had locked himself inside. When they eventually gained entry, they discovered that Nkabinde was intoxicated and fast asleep on a mattress where the girls should have been sleeping. “When the deceased eventually woke up, they had a huge argument with the accused (Nhlanhla) and deceased was unhappy that the accused had taken his girlfriend with him. He accused the deceased of having an affair with his girlfriend, Nontobeko Mamba,” it was submitted during the trial.

Statement

After Nhlanhla had tendered his plea, he filed a statement of agreed facts, which was signed by both parties. According to the statement, Nhlanhla admitted to committing the offence and that he was responsible for the death of his friend. He also admitted that his conduct was unlawful and negligent. Nhlanhla said there was no legal justification for his conduct. However, he said he did not intend to commit the crime and the guilty plea showed that he was remorseful. Judge Mavuso found that Nhlanhla did not go berserk after stabbing his friend. The judge also noted that Nhlanhla was remorseful.