Trio gets life sentences following a murder of suspected criminal in a mob justice

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High Court Division in Gauteng sitting in Johannesburg has handed down life sentences to three men who were found guilty for their involvement in a mob which led to the killing of a man they accused of theft.

Sibusiso Mogedi, Jabulani Nkosi and Stanley Mogedi aged 27, 69 and 33 respectively went looking for Emmanuel Maboea on February 2017 in Vosloorus who was at a friend’s place at the time.

NPA Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwana said that upon finding him, they then started assaulting him.

“They found him at a friend’s place, they assaulted and put him in a boot of a car as they alleged that he had broken into one of the accused’s houses and stolen some items. They assaulted and coerced him into confessing that he had stolen their belongings.”

“Maboea was then taken to his home where the accused found his younger brother. The accused searched for their belongings, but they could not find anything.”

“The younger brother opened the boot and found Maboea unconscious and pleaded with the accused to release him as he was badly injured. The deceased’s mother told the accused to take her son to the police station, as they accused him of stealing from them. They drove with Maboea to the police station, and on arrival, the police said they must take him to the hospital since he was badly injured.”

It was only a day later when the deceased’s brother went to the police station for the him. He was informed that they instructed the now convicts to take him to the hospital for medical attention due to his severe injuries.

However, the brother could not find him at the said hospital but instead found his corpse abandoned in an open field.

The trio was also accompanied by the fourth suspect Mary Mokoloi, who was acquitted of all the charges.