Cape Town – The Limpopo High Court has reportedly sentenced a 45-year-old man to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his girlfriend and son.
Reports alleged that David Matjila from Burgersfort stabbed his girlfriend, Farina Valencia Mahlake 10 times before stabbing his son 12 times in the heart with a sharp object.
The incident occurred at the deceased’s residence in Appiesdoring Burgersfort last year.
According to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, Matjila visited the deceased in August 2021 and an argument ensued between the two, reported IOL.
“Later, the accused (stabbed) his girlfriend 10 times in the neck and further stabbed his son 12 times in the heart with a sharp object,” Malabi-Dzhangi said.
ALSO READ | Man who killed his girlfriend for going out with friends sentenced to life imprisonment
The report further alleged that Matjila tried to kill himself after killing his girlfriend, but failed.
The mother and son’s bodies were left in a pool of blood before being discovered the next day.
Sunday World reported that Matjila suspected his girlfriend of cheating on him after he came across a text message on her phone.
“During the trial, Matjila pleaded guilty. In his plea, he stated that he saw a text message in the deceased cellphone, which proved that she was talking to a man.
“He said that made him suspect that she was cheating on him. He first hit her with a bottle of a soft drink and further stabbed her several times,” the report quoted Malabi-Dzhangi as saying.
On Tuesday, the accused was sentenced to two life sentences which will run concurrently for the gruesome murders.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Facebook/ South African Police Service
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
