[ad_1]
Two men who murdered a police officer in June 2017 have been sentenced to life in prison.
- Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for their role in the murder of a Limpopo policeman.
- The police officer died during a robbery in Letlhabile near Brits.
- A third suspect died after being attacked by members of the community.
Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering a police officer in June 2017.
Surprise Mokoebo, 27, and Thabang Maleka, 26, were convicted on Friday of the murder of Sheriff Samuel Hlongwane of the British Tactical Response Team.
READ | Man who killed Cape Town policeman gets 8 years
Hlongwane, 35, was walking down the main Letlhabile road when her friend, who was driving a BMW, stopped to chat, police spokeswoman Lt. Col. Amanda Funani said.
“They were still chatting when two unknown men confronted them and pointed firearms at them. The men shot the agent, who managed to return fire and shot one of them. The third man arrived in a getaway car, picked up the injured suspect and left him at the Letlhabile clinic, “Funani said.
The other suspect left in the vehicle that belonged to Hlongwane’s friend. Hlongwane was certified dead at the scene, but his friend was unharmed.
“Upon learning of what happened, taxi drivers and some members of the community followed the suspect’s car to the clinic, where they allegedly attacked the injured suspect, who was later certified dead,” Funani said.
During the investigation, a stolen BMW and the hit-and-run car were recovered on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Soshanguve, Gauteng. The suspects were arrested on Friday, August 4, 2017 in Mabopane.
In addition to life sentences, Mokoebo and Maleka were also sentenced to an additional 47 years in prison for the murder of their accomplice, two counts of aggravated robbery, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Did you know that you can comment on this article? Subscribe to News24 and add your voice to the conversation.
