Cape lesbian killers get 18 years
2012-02-01 11:29
Cape Town - Four men were jailed for 18 years
on Wednesday for stabbing and stoning 19-year-old lesbian Zoliswa Nkonyana to
death in 2006.
Lubabalo Ntlabathi, Sicelo Mase, Luyanda
Londzi and Mbulelo Damba were sentenced by the Khayelitsha Regional Court to 18
years, four of which were suspended for five years.
A crowd outside the court cheered, sang,
raised their fists and danced when news came that the men had been sentenced.
The National Prosecuting Authority had asked
for the men to be sentenced to 15 years each.
"We asked the presiding officer to
sentence the men to no less than 15 years in prison as they committed a heinous
crime, killed a young woman because she was living openly as a lesbian, never
showed any remorse or accepted responsibility for what they have done,"
NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said.
"Only their parents apologised on their
behalf and we believe rehabilitation stands a small chance of being
achieved."
The men were found to have killed Nkonyana
because she was openly living as a lesbian.
Another five accused were acquitted.
- SAPA
