Life imprisonment for cousins who killed wrong man in case of mistaken identity
The state also submitted a victim impact statement compiled by a family member of the deceased and facilitated by court preparation officer, Mbalenhle Valencia Komane.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of life imprisonment imposed by the Pietermaritzburg High Court on cousins, Mthokozisi Ngwane (34) and Sanele Mqondisi Ngwane (37) following their conviction on one count of murder, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition.
The murder occurred in the Himeville area in February 2023.
Regional spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, said, “Evidence presented before the court revealed that on February 2, 2023, the accused travelled to Himeville in search of a person they intended to kill. However, in a case of mistaken identity, they fatally shot Nduduzo Ndlovu instead. Although the accused fled the scene after the shooting, alert witnesses recorded the registration number of the vehicle they were travelling in and provided the information to the police. This crucial evidence led to their arrest. Upon their arrest, police recovered two firearms from the accused. Ballistic testing subsequently linked one of the firearms to the murder of Ndlovu.”
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During the trial, the state, represented by Advocate Nkosinathi Mhlambo, led the evidence of the witness who recorded the vehicle registration number on the day of the incident.
The state also submitted a victim impact statement compiled by a family member of the deceased and facilitated by court preparation officer, Mbalenhle Valencia Komane.
The statement detailed the devastating impact of Ndlovu’s death on his family and highlighted the profound loss they continue to endure. It further described the significant role Ndlovu played within the family and the emotional trauma caused by his untimely death.
The court sentenced each accused to life imprisonment for murder, 15 years behind bars on each of the two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and six years’ and twelve months imprisonment for the two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition.
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“The sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of life imprisonment for each accused. The court also declared both accused unfit to possess a firearm. The NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that perpetrators of violent crime are held accountable for their actions,” Ramkisson-Kara concluded.
