Two to be sentenced for attempted murder in Mossel Bay

TWO convicted criminals who broke into a 56-year-old woman’s house, slit her throat and made off with R135 000, are expected to be sentenced in the Mossel Bay Regional Court tomorrow.

Following a lengthy trial, Joseph Motlomelo and Lionel Kennedy were found guilty of housebreaking with the intent to rob, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and attempted murder when in August 2014 they broke into the woman’s house and left her with a 13cm throat laceration.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Motlomelo worked for the woman’s family as a general labourer for several months before the incident on August 18.

On that day Motlomelo arrived at the Great Brak River house and asked the woman for a job.

As she was talking to him at the front door, Kennedy broke into the house, assaulted her and forced her to open the front door.

“Both accused then proceeded to rob the complainant of cash in the amount of R135 000, a laptop computer, two cellphones and various pieces of jewellery. During the robbery, the complainant was viciously assaulted and choked to the point where she lost consciousness.

“The complainant awoke with her throat slit, unable to see, in a pool of her own blood. She managed to crawl blindly to the phone, and called her husband.

“She was taken to the hospital where emergency surgery saved her life,” Ntabazalila said.

The 13cm slit to her throat has caused permanent loss of sensation to her throat and shoulder.

Following a manhunt for Motlomelo and Kennedy, they were arrested separately days later and found with the cash and stolen goods in their possession.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges but the Magistrate ruled on the contrary.