Man sentenced to life in prison over girlfriend’s murder in South Africa

A 45-year-old man, David Matjilla, has been sentenced to life imprisonments for the murder of his girlfriend and son in South Africa.

The spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, said the convict stabbed his girlfriend, Farina Valencia Mahlake, 10 times before sending their son to the great beyond by putting a sharp object on his heart at least 12 times.

The spokesman said Matjilla, a resident of Burgersfort, visited the deceased at her apartment in Appiesdoring in August 2021 and an argument ensued between the couple over an allegation of infidelity.

He later tried to kill himself but failed.

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Malabi-Dzhangi said: “The accused stabbed his girlfriend 10 times in the neck and further stabbed his son 12 times in the heart with a sharp object.

“The mother and son’s bodies were left in a pool of blood before being discovered the next day.

“During the trial, Matjila pleaded guilty. In his plea, he stated that he saw a text message in the deceased cellphone, which proved that she was talking to a man.

“He said that made him suspect that she was cheating on him. He first hit her with a bottle of a soft drink and further stabbed her several times.”

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