Blue Bull turned axe-murderer sentenced to five life terms

19 December 2014 - 16:15 By Sapa
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Former Blue Bull rugby player Phindile Joseph Ntshongwana at the Durban High Court on November 19, 2012 in Durban, South Africa. Ntshongwana is charged with hacking four people to death with an axe. File photo.
Former Blue Bull rugby player Phindile Joseph Ntshongwana at the Durban High Court on November 19, 2012 in Durban, South Africa. Ntshongwana is charged with hacking four people to death with an axe. File photo.
Image: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Thuli Dlamini

Former Blue Bulls player and convicted axe murderer Phindile Joseph Ntshongwana was sentenced to five terms of life imprisonment in the Durban High Court on Friday.

Judge Irfaan Khalil sentenced him to five life terms for four murders and a rape.

He was also sentenced to four years for each of two attempted murders, two years for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and four years for kidnapping.

Ntshongwana killed Thembelenkosini Cebekhulu in Montclair, Durban, on March 20, 2011, Paulos Hlongwa in Lamontville two days later, Simon Ngidi in Umbilo the following day, and an unidentified man in Yellowwood Park some time that week.

All were hacked to death with an axe. Two of the victims were beheaded.

He also raped and kidnapped a woman. He attacked and tried to kill two men, one in Umlazi on March 21, 2011, and the other in Lamontville on March 23.

As Khalil handed down judgment, Ntshongwana showed little emotion and looked down at the floor. The courtroom was packed with the families of the victims and a small group of African National Congress supporters.

The public gallery cheered as Khalil announced his sentence.

Khalil said the court was obliged to impose a life sentence for murder and rape, unless there were extraordinary circumstances.

The onus was on the accused to present "substantial and compelling circumstances" to deviate from the prescribed sentence. He could not find any reason to do so.

"The accused has consistently denied responsibility as he was out of control."

Khalil said the fact that Ntshongwana failed to testify in his defence meant the court had no way of knowing whether he was remorseful or not.

"On the facts of this case, I do not accept that the accused is genuinely remorseful. At most he regrets being caught out," said Khalil.

He rejected the defence's claim that Ntshongwana's mental illness played a role in the crimes.

Ntshongwana had "presence of mind" when committing the murders and the steps taken to avoid detection were an aggravating circumstance.

"His behaviour was methodical, rational and calculating. He attempted to hide behind his mental illness as an excuse for his criminal rampage. It is clear the accused acted with scant regard for human life. To avoid detection he used the cover of darkness to commit his crime."

He said Ntshongwana targeted the vulnerable.

"He purposefully targeted people walking alone. He chased them down and then when they fell down he chopped them. He intended decapitating his victims and was largely successful."

Khalil said witness testimony and forensic evidence, including post-mortem reports, had left no doubt about the brutality of the murders.

"One is filled with a sense of revulsion and disbelief at this man's inhumanity. The victims posed no threat to the accused at all. One cannot imagine the pain and suffering the deceased experienced at being killed in such a manner. The shock and horror they experienced as they realised what was to befall each of them is unimaginable."

He rejected the defence's assertion that the rape was not so severe and did not meet the threshold for a life sentence.

There were a number of aggravating circumstances. Ntshongwana kidnapped the woman, held her captive for three days and raped her three times during that time.

"When raping the victim he refused to use a condom despite being impressed upon to do so [by the victim]," he said.

Deterrence and retribution in serious crimes overshadowed any requirement for rehabilitation.

Outside court, after sentencing, a small group sang and danced in jubilation.

Ntshongwana's sister Luleka Ntshongwana said: "We are saying we respect the judge's ruling, but we do not agree with it. My brother's mental condition has not been taken into consideration. Everybody is saying he's fine. What is going to happen if he relapses?"

She said her family felt the pain of the victims' families, but she still loved her brother dearly.

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