Taxi driver’s attempted murder sentence suspended
ALEXANDRA – Court overrules the victim's sympathy for the attempted murderer.
A taxi driver was sentenced by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court to eight years’ imprisonment which were suspended for five years for attempted murder.
Fifty-four-year old Joseph Sambo admitted to the charge of hacking a 35-year-old female victim with a panga at midday on 23 February. The sentence was meted despite the complainant wanting to withdraw the charge.
He lacerated her hands as she prevented him from chopping her head. The incident occurred as she walked with someone from the 15th Avenue taxi rank, next to the Alexandra Police Station.
The accused first bumped on her and tried to grab her handbag. She held onto it as they wrestled and the accused gave up and returned to the rank. Next, she heard people screaming and telling her to run away as the accused walked back towards her armed with the panga.
When she turned around, he was already next to her and attacked her with the weapon injuring her hands. Members of the public reacted to the incident forcing the man to escape to the police station where he was arrested. The victim was taken to a clinic for treatment.
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