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MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - Two police officers were given certificates of appreciation for their work towards ensuring that two convicted murderers were sentenced to life imprisonment.
In January this year, Constable Malwande Mangcoto of Swellendam attended a crime scene after receiving a call at the community service centre at the police station there, regarding a child being killed.
A toddler (18 months) was murdered during this incident. According to Mangcoto, the parents of the child were involved in a quarrel at their home, resulting in the father attacking the mother with a knife. She managed to escape the assault and fled to safety.
After she locked herself in a room in the house, witnesses saw the man grabbing the toddler by her leg. He threw her to the ground outside the home. There, he slit her throat and stabbed her in the chest.
The 31-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, as well as six years for attempted murder and three years for grievous bodily harm.
Mangcoto says that according to witnesses, there had been a history of domestic violence, but it had not been reported prior to the murder of the toddler.
Sergeant Mkhululi Scott from Barrydale saw to it that a 37-year-old convicted murderer was handed a life sentence for the killing of a 14-year-old girl.
The girl was reported missing in July this year and a man from Barrydale, known to the victim, was named a person of interest. On questioning the man at home, where he denied knowing where the missing girl was, Scott noticed blood on his shirt.
Questioned about its origin, the suspect said he had slaughtered a pig.
Knife found
A witness who saw the suspect with the missing girl, told the police he must have changed his clothing. This led the police back to the suspect's home, where a knife covered in blood was found. This was later identified as the murder weapon.
Following an extensive search in a densely overgrown area near a river, the girl's body, hidden in bushes, was found by a search party.
During the post mortem it was found the girl had 35 stab wounds to her upper body, as well as other injuries. The injuries show that she tried to defend herself. No evidence of sexual assault was found.
The sentence was handed down on 25 August.
Da Gamaskop Police Cluster commander, Brigadier Phumzile Cetyana, praised the officers for their commitment and thorough investigations. They were handed their certificates on Thursday, 9 September at the cluster office in Mossel Bay.
Watch a video below:
A proud moment for Constable Malwande Mangcoto (left) and Sergeant Mkhululi Scott (right). With them in the photograph is Da Gamaskop Cluster Commander, Brigadier Phumzile Cetyana. Photo: Jannie du Plessis
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