The Free State High Court in Bloemfontein has sentenced a 57-year-old man to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his sister and was further handed 15 years for the attempted murder of his stepmother.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson for the Free State division, Mojalefa Senokoatsane, said the incident occurred when Mofihli Pickson Rapabi went to visit his 81-year-old stepmother, Nozizathu Rapabi in Poeleng village, Qwaqwa,
He had travelled from Lenasia in Johannesburg.
“Upon his arrival, she welcomed him and prepared a meal. Sophie Buthelezi,46, who was also visiting at the time, later joined them in the kitchen. A confrontation erupted when Sophie did not greet Mofihli, prompting their mother to inquire about the situation.
“Sophie accused Mofihli of abusing their mother, which led him to draw a firearm and shoot her in the forehead and this was followed by a second shot to the side of her head. After retrieving an item from a bedroom, he returned and shot his stepmother in the neck. Before leaving, he fired a third execution-style shot into Sophie’s mouth. Despite her severe injuries, the elderly stepmother managed to crawl to the gate to seek help,” said Senokoatsane.
During the trial, Mofihli pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defence, stating that Sophie had threatened to burn him with boiling water.
He further claimed that his stepmother was accidentally shot during a struggle for the firearm.
“When questioned about the legality of firing a warning shot, he acknowledged knowing about it but believed it to be unlawful. However, under cross-examination, he admitted that Sophie was unarmed at the time he shot her and failed to provide a legal justification for his actions,” explained Senokoatsane.
Senokoatsane said Rabapi’s defence was rejected and the court concluded that his actions constituted execution-style murder. The court concurred with the State’s argument that he acted with intent to kill, particularly in light of the confrontation regarding accusations of abuse
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