Cape Town – A 26-year-old man, who shot and killed his aunt following a dispute over blankets donated at his grandmother’s funeral, pleaded guilty to the murder on Tuesday.
Lwazi Siyabonga appeared in the Pietermaritzburg high, reports said.
He was charged with murder, five counts of attempted murder, robbery with aggravated circumstances, kidnapping and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, reported TimesLIVE.
On August 20, the suspect and the Qwabe family members gathered in a rondavel after the funeral to divide the blankets, the report said.
An argument occurred when Qwabe’s father wanted to take more blankets than others.
The report said Qwabe felt the family members were attacking his father and left to fetch a firearm.
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On his return, he fired several shots at his relatives through a rondavel window. Phelelani Qwabe was shot dead and five others were seriously injured, the report said.
Lwazithen called his friend Mondli Ntenga to transport the injured relatives to the hospital and later held Ntenga at gunpoint and fled with his car.
According to IOL, Lwazi handed himself to the police two days after the shooting.
In his plea, he stated that he was angry his aunt, Bonisiwe Ntenga insulted his father.
“I was very angry and out of control. I returned to my family homestead with a firearm.
“I moved to the window of my family homestead and fired several shots through the rondavel window, aiming at my aunt, Bonisiwe,” the report quoted him as saying.
Post-mortem revealed that Phelelani, who was standing behind Bonisiwe, died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest.
Although the suspect knew he risked injuring other relatives during the shoot, he pleaded with the court to show mercy when considering his sentence.
Lwazi was expected to be sentenced later this week, the report said.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
