Polo star's killer gets 15 years

2012-09-11 10:24

Sibusiso Duma (File, The Witness)

Durban - The man who stabbed South African polo star Sibusiso Duma to death was sentenced to 15 years in jail by the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, the Mercury reported on Tuesday.

Sibongiseni Mchunu, 25, was sentenced on Friday and would also serve three years for the attempted murder of his girlfriend Smangele Sondeza.

Duma was killed in Lidgetton near Howick on May 1.

Mchunu pleaded not guilty to both the crimes claiming Sondeza was stabbed during a struggle after he had discovered "love messages" from Duma on her phone.

He said he only assaulted her and she had grabbed a knife.

Mchunu said he was at the taxi rank at the time of Duma's murder but Judge Kevin Swain rejected his version of events.

Duma represented South Africa against Australia in the Kirkland International in 2009, scoring five goals and receiving the player of the match award.

He was the first development polo player in the country to climb through the ranks to international level, and had received a job offer to work with a professional polo player in England.

- SAPA