4 get life for killing cop

2007-09-27 21:15

Johannesburg - Four thieves convicted of killing a KwaZulu-Natal policeman received life sentences from the Ladysmith High Court on Thursday, police said.

Police spokesperson Captain Charmaine Struwig said the killers did not even get suspended sentences.

The four - Sibusiso Vincent Mlotshwa, 32, from Ezakheni, Moses Maqhinga Ntshalineshali, 33, from Johannesburg, Thulani Furniture Mtini, 31, from Ladysmith, and Simiso Mungwe, 37 from Ladysmith - were convicted of aggravated robbery, three counts of murder, three counts of unlawful possession of an unlicensed firearm, one count of unlawful possession of ammunition and three counts of theft of a motor vehicle.

Each received a 15 year sentence for aggravated robbery, three life sentences for three counts of murder, five years imprisonment for unlawful possession of three firearms, another ten year sentence for unlawful possession of four other firearms which had the serial numbers filed off, a15 year sentence for unlawful possession of an AK47, five years for unlawful possession of ammunition and another five years each for three counts of theft.

"The sentences will run concurrently with the life sentences and none were suspended sentences," said Struwig.

Shootout

In May last year, the four were part of a gang that robbed a Spar in Estcourt.

They fled in three stolen vehicles to the St Chads area in Ezakheni near Ladysmith.

The same afternoon, three policemen had received a tip off and were following up on it when they traced the accused to a homestead in St Chads.

A shootout took place and a Ladysmith officer, Inspector Johannes Hendrik van der Walt, 36, was shot and killed.

"Two other suspects were killed in the crossfire," said Struwig.

- SAPA