MBABANE – Well-known socialite and former Ministry of Public Works and Transport employee Nelisa Hlatjwako has been sentenced to 15 years for the murder of Principal Crown Counsel Stanley Dlamini.
The sentence was issued by Judge Maxine Langwenya at the High Court on Wednesday in a packed courtroom which had friends and family members of both Hlatjwako and the deceased.
Hlatjwako was found guilty of killing Dlamini in April 2018 outside a popular hangout spot at Msunduza in Mbabane. Last month, Langwenya convicted Hlatjwako after the Crown had proved that he committed the crime of murder beyond a reasonable doubt.
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In her judgment, Judge Langwenya said it was her considered view that the force that was used by Hlatshwako was not commensurate with the danger apprehended.
The conviction and sentencing come after Hlatshwako’s bail was terminated after Principal Crown Counsel Macebo Nxumalo moved an application in terms of Section 145 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act No. 67 of 1938.
The above section provides that: “If the accused is indicted in the High Court after having been admitted to bail, his plea to the indictment shall unless the court otherwise directs, have the effect of terminating his bail and he shall thereupon be detained in custody until the conclusion of the trial in the same manner in every respect as if he had not been admitted to bail.”
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In motivating the application to revoke the bail, the prosecution informed the court that the accused was now a flight risk since the evidence presented by the Crown was overwhelmingly against him and that the defence he presented before the court was so poor that he had lost hope of being acquitted.
In the matter, the Crown was represented by Principal Crown Counsel Nxumalo while the defence attorney for Hlatshwako was Noncedo Ndlangamandla.
