The Brits Regional Court sentenced Nicholas Martin Mogapi (45) on Wednesday, 21 June 2023, to life imprisonment for murder and additional twelve months for malicious damage to property. The latter sentence will run concurrently with the life imprisonment.
Mogapi’s sentence emanated from an incident that occurred in May 2018, when the charred and naked body of a 38-year-old woman was found with hands tied to a tree in the bushes near Samoncor mine, Elandsdrift, Mooinooi.
A murder case was opened and it was later discovered that the woman and her boyfriend were reported missing.
Consequent to a thorough investigation, the suspect, then aged 45, was charged with murder.
At the time of the incident, the accused had a pending case of malicious damage of property against him for smashing a man’s house window pane.
That was after he accused the man of having a relationship with his girlfriend.
The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Kwena applauded the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Caiphus Tabane and all other role players for their excellent collaboration which he said will send a stern warning that those who commit crimes and in the process, violate women and children, will not be spared.
