Life sentences for policeman killers
Sisters of the deceased, Nobulelo Mkhize, Busi Manqele and Ntombikhona Magwaza
Investigating officer Insp Jafta Buthelezi (middle, back) escorts Sihle Ngema and Sifiso Mthembu to the police vehicle which will take them to prison
Dalena van Jaarsveld
EXACTLY a year after pulling over a police vehicle and stabbing a policeman to death, the two men accused of the murder of Capt Emmanuel Nhlengi Manqele were found guilty of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Mtubatuba High Court on Thursday.
Court evidence revealed that Sifiso Mthembu (23) and Sihle Ngema(20) instructed Ngema's girlfriend at the time to pull over a car on the N2 as they wanted to go to town and needed a lift.
She didn't know that this plan involved hijacking the vehicle.
When Capt Manqele stopped to offer them a lift, a struggle ensued during which the policeman was stabbed. He died at the scene.
When they couldn't start the car, they fled the scene on foot.
Apart from the life sentences, Ngema and Mthembu were also sentenced to 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and another five years for the possession of ammunition and an unlicensed firearm. Ngema will serve another three years for escaping from police custody when the police arrested the men shortly after the killing in May last year.
Judge Kruger denied both of the accused's applications for leave to appeal.
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