Lefa Petrus Maruping, 37, was sentenced by the Bloemfontein Regional Court on Tuesday (14/7) for the murder of Katleho Fesi, who was killed at the landfill sit on 16 April last year. Both the accused and the deceased lived and worked at the landfill site.

Free State NPA spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane commended the prosecution and investigating team for their perseverance in securing a conviction despite challenges encountered during the investigation.

The court heard Fesi had been socialising with friends at a shack where alcohol was being sold when an argument broke out between him and Maruping. “Although the deceased initially left the scene after being reprimanded by the shack owner, he later returned, and a physical altercation ensued. Later that day, his body was discovered at the landfill site,” said Senokoatsane.

A post-mortem examination revealed the extent of the attack, he added. The victim died from multiple injuries, including severe blunt-force trauma to the head, resulting in a skull fracture, as well as multiple stab wounds to the chest and abdomen. During the investigation, the state encountered challenges in securing eyewitness testimony due to the transient nature of the landfill community, added Senokoatsane.

However, investigators managed to trace the owner of the shack where the incident started. “The witness testified that he saw the accused repeatedly stabbing the deceased while sitting on top of him.

“His attempts to intervene were unsuccessful because of the accused’s aggression. He further testified that he saw the deceased stop moving during the attack.”

Maruping pleaded not guilty and claimed he acted in self-defence, alleging Fesi and his companions had attacked him with knives. However, the state disputed his version during cross-examination.

The eyewitness told the court he had not seen Fesi or his companions carrying knives and only saw Maruping with a knife. The accused was also unable to explain why he had suffered no injuries despite claiming he had been attacked by several armed individuals, Senokoatsane said.

Maruping admitted he could not remember how many times he stabbed Fesi because he was angry. The court found Maruping’s version was not reasonably possibly true, as it repeatedly changed during his testimony and was contradicted by the evidence presented.

The court also found the accused displayed no remorse, failed to assist the mortally wounded victim, and instead fled the scene before being arrested by the police.

During arguments on sentence, state prosecutor Tseliso Kopa told the court the seriousness of the offence required a lengthy prison term. He argued Maruping had shown no remorse and that the sentence should reflect the severity of the crime.

The court described the murder as particularly brutal and found no substantial and compelling circumstances to justify deviating from the prescribed minimum sentence. Maruping was subsequently sentenced to 20 years’ direct imprisonment for murder.

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