A 26year old man has been sentenced to 20  years direct imprisonment for the murder of his 36-year-old pregnant girlfriend. He pleaded not guilty and denied ever knowing the deceased. Siyabonga Mabe from Orange Farm was romantically involved with the deceased when he decided to take her life on February 29 2020.It is alleged that the then couple was at a tavern when an argument broke between them. Mabe then assaulted and dragged the deceased to his shack, situated in Extension 7.

LEFT FOR DEAD

The court heard that the following morning, the deceased was found badly injured in an open veld near Mabe's place and the police were contacted and an ambulance was called. Unfortunately she died in  hospital on the  1st of  March 2020, due to blunt force trauma to the brain. The accused denied ever knowing the deceased and claimed he first saw he when his aunt brought him to the scene. Mabe was arrested on 12 April  last year and has been in custody since.

PLEADING NOT GUILTY

He pleaded not guilty to the charges tabled against him. The aunt of the deceased testified in court that the deceased was five months pregnant at the time of her  death. "Her death has impacted the family as she leaves behind five children, the youngest being 2 years old, while the oldest is 11 years old. The siblings had to be separated, and three of the children are now staying with their unemployed grandmother in Mpumalanga, while others are staying with their fathers," explained the aunt.

HARSH SENTENCE

In aggravation state prosecutor Advocate Lawrence Sivhidzho said,"The five minor children will never experience their mother's love. The deceased was killed most brutally, she was dragged, her skin peeled off and left in the bush the whole night.  Mabe showed no remorse, he maintained his innocence even at the sentencing stage; therefore, he asked the court to impose a deterrent sentence."

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