Cape Town – The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court has sentenced a 35-year-old man to life imprisonment for the gruesome murder of his 83-year-old relative.
According to police, Nick Mpolokeng Kolokoto broke into Elizabeth Kolokoto’s home in 2012 and stole R36 before setting her house on fire while the victim was inside.
The accused was on his way back from a tavern when he recruited his friends to rob his elderly relative who lived alone, but ended up committing the crime alone when he failed to get his friends to participate in the crime, said police spokesperson Selvy Mohlala in a statement.
“The accused went straight to the granny’s house where he gained entrance to the yard by jumping the fence, broke her bedroom window, and then entered the house. He found the granny already awake and demanded money from her.
“When the granny indicated that she had no money, the accused assaulted her and banged her against the wall until she fell down. He ransacked the house, only to come out with R36,” said Mohlala.
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He said that before leaving, the accused set paper alight which led to the house burning to the ground with the elderly woman inside it.
He went home, changed his clothes, and burned them before going to sleep.
“The following morning he realised that his running shoes had bloodstains, he also threw them in the pit toilet to conceal the evidence,” said Mohlala.
Mohlala said only a human skull was found after the house had been burned to the ground.
“Dedicated police investigators put all their efforts into ensuring they found the one responsible for this atrocious incident. Investigations led them to the accused, who later admitted that his bloodstained running shoes had been thrown inside the pit toilet.”
Mohlala’ said the accused’s admission was the beginning of a major breakthrough and enabled most of the forensic investigation.
In court, Kolokoto admitted responsibility for the murder, robbery and arson which led to his life imprisonment sentence for the murder coupled with six years for arson, and five years for housebreaking and theft.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
