By Mapaballo Borotho
- A Pretoria man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his 19-year-old girlfriend.
- He stabbed her multiple times after a minor argument and later handed himself over to police.
- The court rejected his self-defence claim, citing the brutality of the crime and lack of remorse.
A man from Pretoria who brutally murdered his 19-year-old girlfriend in 2023 will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court.
Phineas Mashaba (28) stabbed the victim multiple times in the neck and abdomen following an argument related to the contents of her phone.
After the attack, Mashaba fled to Limpopo but later handed himself over to police in the City of Tshwane. He has remained in custody since his arrest.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mashaba pleaded not guilty during the trial, claiming he acted in self-defence.
He also asked the court to impose a lesser sentence, citing that he is a first-time offender and the main financial provider for his mother and siblings.
The State opposed this, arguing that the crime was extremely serious and reflects a broader pattern of violence in the country.
Prosecutor Advocate Lalane told the court that Mashaba showed no remorse, highlighting that he left written notes explaining his actions on top of the victim’s body.
The court also heard a victim impact statement facilitated by court preparation officer Lebogang Lebese, where the victim’s family described the deep emotional trauma they have suffered.
They said they were unable to view her body and that their lives have been permanently changed by her death.
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