Picture: The deceased, Sam Junior Mbatha/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
Three men who were arrested in connection with the murder of North West University (NWU) employee and socialite, Sam Junior Mbatha (24) were found guilty by the North West High Court sitting at the Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court. Arthur Khoza (19), Mahlatsi Nkuna (21), and Thato Mosetla (22), are guilty of all charges and the matter was postponed to 25 July 2024, for sentencing.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said, Khoza, Nkuna and Mosetla, are facing charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, murder, malicious damage to property and defeating the ends of justice.
Mamothame said the state, through Adv Nangamso Goloda, closed its case after leading evidence through five witnesses, who testified on incidents leading to Mbatha’s death.
He further said Judge Frances Reid, found the three guilty on all charges against them. Mamothame added that the three were arrested following an intensive investigation by the police, linking them to the murder of Mbatha.
“The police investigations led them to a house in the Phutha Section, near Klipgat on 21 June 2021, where they found bloodstains on the floor, under and on top of a bed, as well as on a carpet.
“Furthermore, an axe suspected to have been used during the commission of this crime was found on top of the roof of the house. The DNA samples positively identified Mbatha as the deceased person, whose body was found inside a burnt Hyundai i20 vehicle, at a soccer field in Ikageng Section on 17 June 2021,” he said.
Mamothame said Mosetla was denied bail on 7 July 2022 after he initially abandoned it. He said Khoza and Nkuna are out on R500 bail each.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, welcomed the judgement and expressed hope for a suitable sentence to be imposed against the trio when the matter appears in court in July.
The Guardian 