DURBAN – Yesterday, the Pinetown Regional Court sentenced Sboniso Msomi (33) to fifty six years imprisonment for charges of burglary, robbery, murder and attempted murder. He was also sentenced for the murder of his co-accused.

His sentence follows a series of cases that he had committed in the Kloof, Wyebank and Pinetown areas. Msomi and his deceased’s co-accused were terrorising the home owners and robbed them of their belongings. On 19 February 2018, six males entered houses in the Pinetown area and robbed the occupants in the houses of TV’s, cash, jewellery, laptops, cellphones and other belongings.

The suspects fled the scene in their getaway vehicle. The police were immediately alerted and the suspect’s vehicle was spotted travelling along the M13 in Fields Hill. The police officers from the K9 Unit tried to intercept the said vehicle but they were met by a hail of bullets. During the exchange of gun-fire, five males were fatally wounded and one survived with injuries.

Inside the suspect’s vehicle, the police found three illegal firearms with ammunition. All the property that was taken during the robbery was recovered and positively identified by the lawful owners. It was established that the vehicle used was stolen during a house robbery that was committed in Wyebank.

A water-tight docket was presented at court by the investigating officer from EThekwini District Trio Task Team and it led to the successful prosecution of the surviving accused. The accused made several court appearances until his sentence.

Source: South African Police Service