Murder accused Flavio Hlabangwane has been found guilty of the premeditated murder of his cousin who was also his lover Tshepang Pitse. The high court sitting at Palmridge magistrates on Tuesday found Hlabangwane guilty of murder, violation of a corpse and defeating the ends of justice.
ADMITTING GUILT
Last week Hlabangwane admitted to the court that he planned to kill Pitse after he found out he had cheated on him. He also told the court that since then, he felt nothing but hatred towards the deceased and resentment. "I started to search the internet on ways to kill a person and dispose of the body,' he told the court last week Thursday. This follows a testimony made by a friend of the deceased Thulisile Lubambo who knew about the abuse between the pair.
PITSE LURED TO HER DEATH
State prosecutor Advocate Johan Badenhorst told the court the deceased had moved back to her father's house two months prior to her death. However, Hlabangwane lured her back to his place for a study session and that same day was the last Pitse's father spoke to her. "My Lord remembers the accused reminded the deceased of what will happen when she leaves the ship? Well, we all know what happened. Well, we put to the court that the deceased couldn't 'abandon' the ship, even in her death and that's why Hlabangwane kept parts of her body in the fridge, even bringing other women over for Pitse's spirit to see,'.
DEFENCE: THE TRUTH WAS EXPOSED
Hlabangwane's defense attorney Tsakane Ndhlovu told the court that her client admitted that all that was said by Pitse's friend was true. For this reason, he saw no point of her being cross-examined because he had been exposed. "He agreed with the witnesses and admitted that he planned on taking the deceased, he even went he even through documentaries on how to execute the murder." An emotional Hlabangwane cried as he was told that he has a chance to provide evidence and a list of people who testify on his behalf. He is due to apply for a pre-sentencing report and it will be heard on the 10th of February when court resumes.
