State demands jail time for #Flabba killer
Sindisiwe Manqele, convicted of murdering Nkululeko “Flabba” Habedi, should be jailed, prosecutor Paul Schutter argued in court.
|||Johannesburg - The High Court sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court should impose a direct prison sentence for Sindisiwe Manqele, who has been convicted of murdering her rap star boyfriend “Flabba”, prosecutor Paul Schutter argued on Thursday.
“The accused is a relatively young person, society expects relevant punishment for a crime and we submit that a direct prison sentence will suit the crime in this case,” Schutter said.
He said correctional supervision as suggested by Manqele’s legal representative Norman Makhubela would not be sufficient and did not match the crime.
Schutter further argued that Manqele showed no remorse during the trial, and had inflicted pain on the family of the deceased.
Makhubela earlier told the court that only correctional supervision and not prison sentence will be appropriate for Manqele. He argued that there were compelling circumstances to not impose a jail.
“Direct imprisonment is not an appropriate sentence on his client. Correctional supervision will be an appropriate sentence,” said Makhubela.
“There is a perception that a correctional supervision does not constitute punishment, this is not true. Correctional supervision is not an easy processes at all.”
He said Manqele “played her cards open” for the court and admitted that she stabbed Habedi.
“The accused had to take action and defend her dignity and her life.”
Earlier Makhubela said that her trial is a reflection of the gender-based violence in the South African society.
“Your lordship, this is a reflection of our society, where an original victim became a villain. This is a reflection of moral of our society today besides it being the saddest story to have happened,” Makhubela argued.
Makhubela said the case has attracted public and media attention, putting his client in the spotlight.
The public was wondering how the court would react to the case and what kind of punishment would be metted out, he said.
“The question is whether the court would react with humility? Or with anger and revenge? The accused has been sworn at, called names and (had) her face spat on … that cannot be a favourable treatment at all.”
He said Manqele “overcooked the pot” and overstepped the mark by stabbing Habedi. Makhubela further compared the case to the English literature classic of Romeo and Juliet.
“What she did was unfortunate. This is an accused who exceeded the boundaries, but this by no means, was a premeditated action from her.”
He said the case was one of the once-off and unfortunate incidents and should be separated from offenders such as serial rapists and killers.
Manqele was a first time offender and had a right to plead not guilty because she was within her right to act as she did, said Makhubela.
Manqele was found guilty of killing her rapper boyfriend Nkululeko “Flabba” Habedi.
She had pleaded not guilty and claimed she acted in self-defense.
Manqele wore a black jacket and bowed her face during arguements. She covered her face with a floral doek as she had been doing throughout the trial.
Habedi’s mother Agatha was with Nkululeko’s daughter, Lesego. They sat near the front of the court, behind Manqele in the public gallery.
Sentencing continues.
African News Agency