Accused paid officer R15 000 to quash charge

15 June 2010, 16:45

By Zelda Venter

A father of four who strangled two of his girlfriends has been sentenced to 32 years imprisonment by the Pretoria High Court.

Judge Peter Mabuse told Simon Skhosana, 36, of Moloto in Mpumalanga that the court accepted that he did not plan to kill his girlfriends, however, they were defenceless women and the court had to send out a strong message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.

It also appeared that Skhosana did not learn a lesson after killing his first girlfriend, Joana Mtshwena following an argument. He never faced a trial as he paid the investigating officer R15 000 to quash the charge.

It was only after he strangled his second girlfriend, Johanna Phungwako five years later that his deeds caught up with him and he had to stand trial for both killings.

"You have not learned from your previous experience. If let loose, you could commit the same crime," the judge said.

This breaking news flash was supplied exclusively to iol.co.za by the news desk at our sister title, Pretoria News.

The Star

Comments by Sonny

Is this the price we had to pay for freedom from corruption?

I'd rather call back the past!

Did the investigating officer have to pay back the R15,000.00 or was he promoted to a

higher position in the SAPS?

Why was he not prosecuted?