The accused Isaih Togowe aka Smith (44) appeared before the Bloemfontein High Court on Monday, 16 May 2022, where he was convicted and sentenced as charged to direct life imprisonment for murder and 15 years direct imprisonment for robbery.
His conviction originates from an incident which took place on 24 March 2016 where the deceased Lejani Alfred Helepi (58) was shot and killed in his house Phahameng Township, Mangaung.
The suspects fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash, one firearm, ammunition and car keys and fled with the bakkie of the deceased. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Rocklands.
The case was handed over to the Hawk’s Serious Organised Crime Investigation Team based in Bloemfontein for further investigation.
Togowe was arrested in July 2018 whilst his co-accused Gxamza Baninzi (40), who is currently serving his 35 years’ direct imprisonment, was arrested in January 2017.
The Hawks Provincial Head Free State, Major General Mokgadi Bokaba commended the work of the investigation team. The sentences meted out by the court will send out a strong message and serve as a deterrent to other criminals.
