BREAKING | Family unhappy as Nosicelo’s killer gets 25 years

The Mtebeni family will meet and discuss ways to challenge the sentencing meted out to their daughter Nosicelo’s killer.

Nosicelo was murdered and her body dismembered by boyfriend Alutha Pasile, 25, in August.

Judge Nomathamsanqa Beshe on Thursday sentenced Pasile to 25 years for murder and 10 years for attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

The 10 years will run concurrently with the 25 years.

In their presentations, both the defence and the state agreed that a lengthy sentence was proper for the crime committed.

However, both parties disagreed on the length of the sentence, with defence attorney advocate Ncumisa Dyantyi proposing 20 years in jail while the state’s Nickie Turner pleaded for a life term.

Nosicelo’s father, Kholisile, said the family was meeting to discuss a way forward.

“We are not happy with this sentence. He [Pasile] had time to go buy tools to dismember my child and he gets off lightly with the crime.

“We expected a life sentence. We will talk about how we challenge this as a family.”

Pasile’s father, Mandla, said he was heartbroken by what his son had done.

He said the sentence was not a consolation for what the Mtebeni’s have gone through.

“No parent sends their children to commit heinous crimes like this.

“As a family we feel for the Mtebenis and we hope that my child will learn from what he has done,” he said.

Director of Public Prosecutions Barry Madolo welcomed the prison term.

"I congratulate the investigating officer who meticulously collected damning evidence which resulted in the accused having no other option but to admit guilt. I also wish to congratulate the prosecutor, Advocate Turner for presenting a compelling argument during aggravation of sentence which led the court to deviate from minimum discretionary sentence of 15 years to a more hefty sentence of 25 years."

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