Pakistani man sentenced for the murder of his girlfriend
BURGERSFORT
The Polokwane High Court sentenced a Pakistani national Ashan Fraz Cheema (33), to life imprisonment for the murder of Mohlale Precious Magabane, two years for theft and five years for defeating the ends of justice. Magabane, was a teacher at Kabishi Primary School in Burgersfort. She was killed on 23 December 2018.
During the trial, Raza Ali, a friend of the accused was called as a state witness to testify. Ali told the court that Cheema was communicating with him, about his problems with the deceased. Later, on 23 December 2018, Cheema confessed to Ali that he killed the deceased using a knife.
“Cheema further asked the witness to bring five refuse bags. He further confessed that he dismembered the deceased’s body, placed her body parts in the refuse bags, and drove around disposing of the deceased’s body parts at Lydenburg mountain along R37 road. He contacted him again, wanting his help to bury the deceased’s head and hands at Mashifane Park sports ground. The DNA proves that the body parts belong to the deceased. Cheema pleaded not guilty to all these offences and the court found him guilty as charged,” revealed Limpopo NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi Dzhangi.
In aggravation of sentence, the state Adv. Nkhetheni Munyai said that murder is a serious offence and the accused is not remorseful for his conduct and that this has caused a huge impact on the family, as they were unable to have a funeral for their loved one because the body parts were not all found.
He further said, the deceased had two children, who will never see their mother’s grave. The court must impose a life sentence on the murder charge.
During sentencing, Judge President Ephraim Makgoba said, the accused was convicted of a serious offence, which falls under Gender-Based-Violence and which is a big problem in this country.
He further said that in imposing the sentence, the court will take into account the personal circumstances of the accused, the nature and seriousness of the offence and the interest of the society.
The court sentenced Cheema, to life imprisonment for murder, two years for theft and five years for defeating the ends of justice.
The accused had fired his legal representatives more than seven times, in that regard, he ended up representing himself during the trial.
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the sentence and the Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Ivy Thenga commended the good work of Warrant Officer Patrick Pila and Adv. Nkhetheni Munyai.
