Talane – A 36-year-old father from Ngwanamatle village in Jane Furse, who buried alive his innocent five-year-old son is sentenced 20 years in prison.
The brutal killing of the child follows the mother’s divorcing the father as the convicted told the court that he was angry about the mother’s decision to divorce him.
The infuriated local community members confronted the child-killer which led to his arrest.
Lai Phepheng “the child-killer” buried his son alive in a shallow grave in 2019. The child by then, according to a statement by the NPA in Limpopo, was in Germinston at hid grandmother’s home when the father took him to bury him in his yard, the mother was at work.
“Phepheng was arrested a few days later after he was confronted by the community of Ngwanamatle. He pleaded guilty to the charges and stated that he was very angry because the mother had divorced him,” NPA’s Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said.
The prosecutor, advocate Sontaga Malefahlo, said the court has to be of no mercy when sentencing Phepheng for killing an innocent blood.
“The killing of the deceased was brutal. He knew very well that his son was a little innocent boy but he did not care about the little soul. Though the accused did show remorse and pleaded guilty to the charges, the court should impose a harsh punishment on the accused because he killed the deceased for no reason.”
Malefahlo says the killing of women and children is the most badgering in the country and as such the courts must impose harsh sentences on those engaging in such an evil act to discourage the commission thereof.
“The killing of women and children has become a serious problem in our country and the courts must send a message that these evil actions will not go unpunished,” said Malefahlo.
Judge president Ephraim Makgoba concurred with the judges in sentencing Phepheng to 20 years for murder and two years for defeating the ends of justice. The sentences thereof will run concurrently.
STUF News
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