Wife killer to be sentenced

A FORMER SANDF sergeant who was found guilty of murdering his wife by shooting her with a R4 assault rifle at a Kimberley guest house, will be sentenced in the Northern Cape High Court this week.

John “Thapelo” Mamogale was found guilty of the murder of his 27-year-old spouse, Shelley, who died in a room at the Boitumelo Jwa Sechaba Guest House in Minerva Gardens on February 5, 2012 as a result of a gunshot to the head.

Mamogale used an assault rifle that he had “booked out” from the SANDF shortly before the murder, which occurred amidst allegations that his wife was having an extramarital affair.

A post-mortem revealed that the bullet had entered Shelly’s cheek, below her eye, exited through her jaw and re-entered her chest. The fatal shot was fired from less than 30cm away from the deceased’s face and it was further found that she was on her knees (in a submissive position), with Mamogale standing over her, as the fatal shot came from above.

The Northern Cape High Court yesterday heard pre-sentencing arguments and Mamogale will be sentenced tomorrow.

Mamogale’s legal representative pleaded with the court to impose a lenient sentence on him as he was a first offender and to take into account the turmoil that he went through on the day of the murder.

The State, however, argued that no compelling and substantial circumstances existed for the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence.

– Norma Wildenboer