27-year-old Bethelsdorp man was served with a life sentence today in the Port Elizabeth High court for the murder of his ex-girlfriend
On 11 November 2017, the deceased was at her residence in Mkayo Street in Greenfields when the accused, Sibongiseni Sotomella came to the house. He phoned her on her cellphone to come outside but she refused. He kicked the door opened and entered. Morai’s sister who was in the kitchen tried to prevent him further entry but she was overpowered. Morai tried to lock him out the room but he managed to force the door open. She was stabbed several times and died before receiving any medical attention.
The following day, Sotomella handed himself over to police. He was released on R800 bail but was detained about a year ago for flouting his bail conditions. He remained in custody until his sentencing today. At the time of the fatal killing, Morai and Sotomella were no longer in a relationship however the motive for killing her was jealousy.
Mount Road Cluster Commander, Maj Gen Thembisile Patekile commended the investigating officer, W/O Osher Bergman for securing the maximum sentence for such a heinous crime. ‘ The unrelenting attacks and murders on women and children destroys the moral ethics of society and therefore sentences such as this is most deserving to the perpetrators,’ added Maj Gen Patekile.
