MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER
The Tlhabane Regional Court sentenced Atlholang William Mosiane (34), to life imprisonment for murdering his 27-year-old girlfriend. Mosiane, who was a law enforcement officer at the Rustenburg Traffic Department was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. His conviction emanates from an incident that occurred on 25 March 2021, at Lefaragatlha near Tlhabane, wherein he went to his girlfriend’s home, as they had agreed to meet at 19h00. At the time she had not arrived, and he proceeded to look for her at her friend’s house in Tlhabane, to no avail.
He then went back to her home and found her in her shack. He then demanded to check her phone to which she complied, while also telling him not to interrogate her about the content in the phone. An argument ensued and she subsequently took her phone and called her father. Upon answering the call, the father heard a gunshot and quickly rushed to the shack accompanied by the deceased’ younger sister. When they arrived, he had already shot her five times, killing her on the spot. He then took their 10-year-old son and left the scene. He later handed himself over to the police and the court granted him bail. During court proceedings, he tendered a guilty plea which the state rejected, as it was an attempt to avoid a longer jail term.
In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Mercia Magano, urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, as the accused was a law enforcement officer who had a responsibility to uphold the law. Magistrate Segakweng Moeng agreed with the state and remarked on the character displayed by the accused of being regretful but not remorseful. A life sentence was subsequently imposed for pre-meditated murder.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the prosecutor, Warrant Officer Richard Mogongwana and other role players for their collaboration in bringing the perpetrator to book.
