A MAN CONVICTED OF SETTING HIS GIRLFRIEND ALIGHT IS SET FOR SENTENCING
A case against a 45-year-old man from eDwaleni Trust, in the district of KaBokweni who was convicted of contravention of the domestic violence act and premeditated murder of his ex-girlfriend, Precious Nomthandazo Mnguni (30), was postponed to 26 June 2023, for probation officers’ report by the Mpumalanga High Court today. Ramoula Vernon Brown and the deceased were in a romantic relationship and had a child together.
After the breakup, the accused started following the deceased and assaulted her, as a result, the deceased successfully applied for a protection order against the accused. Some of the conditions set by the court were for the accused not to assault the deceased and not to enter the deceased’s homestead. Early morning of 21 August 2021, the accused went to the deceased’s homestead with a petrol canister. He waited for the deceased to come out of the house. He attacked the deceased, poured her with petrol, and further caused her to drink it, then set her alight.
The victim’s mother heard her daughter screaming and went to investigate, only to find the accused standing over the deceased. She grabbed the accused trying to protect the deceased but was overpowered. The accused fled the scene leaving the deceased’s mother trying to extinguish the fire using water. The deceased was taken to Themba Hospital, where she succumbed to burnt wounds injuries four days after the incident happened.
In court, Brown pleaded not guilty, instead gave contradictory evidence, and made no mention of him setting the deceased alight. Senior State Advocate Msibi led evidence of the deceased’s mother, who saw the deceased burning. Another witness testified that he saw the accused holding the petrol canister, days before the incident happened, he added that the same canister that he saw the accused carrying, was the one found on the crime scene.
Judge Takalani Ratshibvumo, said in respect of all the charges, the accused is facing, the court is satisfied that the state case has been proven beyond reasonable doubt, and found the accused guilty as charged.
