Sentencing of an East London father who shot dead his girlfriend and two children before turning the gun on himself last year was delayed in the East London Regional Court yesterday.
Fezile Mjacu, 37, was supposed to have been sentenced yesterday for the July 27 2016 murders of his 30-year-old girlfriend Sungulwa Four, his 14-year-old son Awonke Four and 13-year-old daughter Azipheli Four.
The murders took place in the family home in Duncan Village.
His attorney, public defender Zolisa Maqhina, asked regional magistrate Deon Rossouw that sentencing be temporarily suspended so that Mjacu could be seen by a psychiatrist to determine his state of mind when he committed the murders.
Rossouw heard that a pre-sentencing report by a probation officer from the justice department on the matter was still outstanding.
Rossouw postponed the sentencing to October 16 for both reports. Mjacu pleaded guilty to all charges last month.
He told the court he shot his girlfriend after a vicious argument.
He said he then shot himself in the head.
He woke up covered in blood and found himself still in possession of the semi-automatic firearm.
He said he then went to the kitchen, where he poured himself a cup of water before walking to where his son and daughter were sleeping.
He said he shot each child in the head before turning the gun on himself again.
He survived.
He was charged with three counts of murder, one count of illegal possession of a firearm and another of illegal possession of ammunition. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Sentencing of family killer postponed
Fezile Mjacu, 37, was supposed to have been sentenced yesterday for the July 27 2016 murders of his 30-year-old girlfriend Sungulwa Four, his 14-year-old son Awonke Four and 13-year-old daughter Azipheli Four.
The murders took place in the family home in Duncan Village.
His attorney, public defender Zolisa Maqhina, asked regional magistrate Deon Rossouw that sentencing be temporarily suspended so that Mjacu could be seen by a psychiatrist to determine his state of mind when he committed the murders.
Rossouw heard that a pre-sentencing report by a probation officer from the justice department on the matter was still outstanding.
Rossouw postponed the sentencing to October 16 for both reports. Mjacu pleaded guilty to all charges last month.
He told the court he shot his girlfriend after a vicious argument.
He said he then shot himself in the head.
He woke up covered in blood and found himself still in possession of the semi-automatic firearm.
He said he then went to the kitchen, where he poured himself a cup of water before walking to where his son and daughter were sleeping.
He said he shot each child in the head before turning the gun on himself again.
He survived.
He was charged with three counts of murder, one count of illegal possession of a firearm and another of illegal possession of ammunition. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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