Man gets life for gran's murder
2008-06-17 21:13
Pretoria - A 22-year-old KwaMhlanga man was jailed for life on Tuesday for killing his grandmother with a hammer.
The Pretoria High Court sentenced Johan Sifiso Mbatha of Kwaggafontein to life and 15 years imprisonment for murdering and robbing his elderly grandmother, Busisiwe Mbatha, in February 2006.
She died after she was hit with a hammer on the back of her head and strangled in her bed.
Her grandson denied guilt, claiming he was at home and had not seen his grandmother again after she told him she was going to see a doctor.
Acting Judge Peter Mabuse allowed the State to hand in confessions by Mbatha in which he admitted that he had murdered his grandmother because he wanted her money.
Passing sentence, Mabuse said the only things that counted in Mbatha's favour were his youth and the fact that he had a job at the time of the incident and a young child to support.
The seriousness of the crime, however, outweighed Mbatha's personal circumstances.
Mbatha had two previous convictions for housebreaking and assault and "graduated" to murder and robbery less than two years after his previous conviction, Mabuse said.
He had also shown no remorse whatsoever for what he had done.
The judge said it was clear that the blows had been directed to the elderly woman's head with the direct intention to kill her, as her skull had been fractured.
- SAPA