By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Pretoria High Court sentenced Brian Thamsanqa Somfaka (34) from Nigel to 24 years direct imprisonment for murder of his girlfriend.
He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. This is after he was convicted on 09 November 2022.
On 13 August Somfaka assaulted his 28-year-old girlfriend who was 38 weeks pregnant with their third child with a steel pipe.
Lumka Mahanjana, NPA Regional spokesperson, said Somfaka then called an ambulance that took him and the deceased to Pholosong Hospital, where she later succumbed to the injuries.
In aggravation of sentence, Adv. Gerhard Maritz told the court that the deceased was assaulted for no reason in a very cruel manner with a pick and she bled to death even with the assistance of medical personnel.
Maritz said the woman was pregnant and defenseless against the attack. He further added that the accused showed no remorse for his actions.
Maritz also informed the court that Somfaka had seven previous convictions raging from attempted murder, assault, theft, and illegal possession of drugs.
When sentencing, presiding judge Tshifhiwa Maumela, agreed with the state that Somfaka showed no remorse and that he portrayed an arrogant attitude towards the deceased family in court.
He also added that it was not acceptable that one’s harsh upbringing gives them the right to abuse the rights of others and in this case, to kill an innocent person. Moreover, the stream of previous convictions do not seem to have yielded any results.
The NPA opposed the application for leave to appeal the sentence that was brought forward by the defense.