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'It will stop murders'
11/12/2007 14:02 - (SA)
Mthatha - The hefty sentence given to a Willowvale man who murdered a local resident who had come to the aid of a group of women he was holding hostage, should serve as a deterrent to would-be murderers, Eastern Cape police said on Tuesday.
While Joint Masana was in a house in Willowvale in May 2006, he had pointed a gun at five women there who had accused him of murdering another person, said Captain Lingisele Magama.
He took three cellphones from them at gunpoint and locked the door of the house.
People outside realised that something was happening and mobilised a team who tried to push the door open to get the women out.
However, Masana began firing wildly through the door and killed one of the people trying to help, 38-year-old Mbuyisela Ndumiso.
Masana ran away but was later caught and arrested.
In the Mthatha High Court on Monday, he was sentenced to life for murder, 20 years for armed robbery, 10 years for possession of an unlicensed firearm and five years for possession of ammunition.
"It was a big one," said Magama. "We are very happy because it is a deterrent for those who still want to kill other people."
The sentences will run concurrently.
Masana was never officially implicated in the murder that the women accused him of.
This trial is currently underway.
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