Teenager pleads guilty for murder
Estimated reading time: 7 minute(s)
A 16 years old teenager who stole his father’s firearm that had live rounds in it has been found guilty for murder of a 61 years old Alpheus Mphumuzeni Ntuli.Making an appearance at Nongoma Regional Court, the 16 years old pleaded guilty in court and confirmed with the presiding officer on the matter that he was not forced to make plea and he made it freely.
This is while his two co-accused, Sphamandla Ngobe and John Thabede, decided to not plead guilty and they will appear in the Ulundi Regional Court next year.The teenager said that on 22 April 2023, he was at home where he stole his grandfather’s licensed firearm, which had six lives rounds in it. He said that he went to visit his two co-accused one of whom was his school friend. They asked him to leave the firearm with them and he did so.
“Then two days later, on 24 April 2023, he went to visit them again and, on this occasion, they decided that they should go and rob a shop that was far from their homestead. They decided that they would hijack a motor vehicle they could use as a getaway car. They then left their homestead and hitchhiked to go to another area. At some point they decided to abandon their plan and headed back home. They hitchhiked a lift with the victim Ntuli.”
“Whilst they were inside his vehicle, the teenager said that he saw his one co-accused pointing the firearm at Ntuli, forcing Ntuli to stop the car and get out of it. He said that his other co-accused jumped out of the motor vehicle and robbed Ntuli of his belongings. One of his co-accused then shot and killed Ntuli. The teenager said that he was told to drive the motor vehicle towards their homestead and leave it in some bushes. He did as he was told, and they all returned to the vehicle later that night. They stole Ntuli’s two cellphones and wallet, containing his bank cards. They moved Ntuli’s body, hiding it under a bridge, where it was later recovered by the police. The teenager was arrested soon after, with the firearm in his possession.”
This was said by NPA spokesperson in KZN Natasha Ramkisson-Kara who added that the family of the deceased expressed anger and sadness about the matter taking into consideration the fact that he had just been discharged from hospital and the reason why they came in close contact with him was that he was helping them by giving them a lift, they decided to use his kindness against him.
The teenager was sentenced to five years imprisonment for theft of firearm, eight years imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearm, eight years imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition, 10 years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances and 12 years imprisonment for murder.
