Suspended sentences for man’s death
ALEXANDRA - Three youths and a man get suspended sentences for a murder case involving teens.
Three youths and a man found guilty by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court for the assault of another man who subsequently died, were each sentenced to three years’ imprisonment wholly suspended for five years.
The incident, which occurred last year at the Rasta Village in Eastbank, also involved two teenagers who took part in the assault. One of the teens was used a rock to crush the victim, Nqobile Masuku’s head, leading to his death.
The two teenagers will be sentenced for their part in the crime on 5 May after receipt of a social workers’ report and recommendation.
One youth is in a place of safety and the other is in the care of a guardian. In mitigation, one of them was said to be from a broken home, abandoned while very young and raised by a foster family and became a problem child.
The case was reported in, Minors face Rasta Village murder charge, week ending 4 March 2016. Evidence led in court was that the incident was instigated after the deceased was identified by a mob as a thief who allegedly stole clothes from residents in the area.
A doctor’s report presented in court confirmed that the victim’s death was caused by blunt-force injury to the head.
