Home News NC man gets life for killing ex-lover, baby

NC man gets life for killing ex-lover, baby

1878

Pieterson was also found guilty of defeating the ends of justice after he burnt and concealed their bodies in the veld near Windsorton on May 12 last year.

Michael Pieterson. Picture: Soraya Crowie

MURDER accused Michael Pieterson, 36, has been sentenced to life imprisonment following his conviction for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Kantsi Mokgele, and their 11-month-old baby.

Pieterson was also found guilty of defeating the ends of justice after he burnt and concealed their bodies in the veld near Windsorton on May 12 last year.

Acting Northern Cape High Court Judge Willem Coetzee on Tuesday handed down two life sentences for the murders and an additional five years for defeating the ends of justice.

The sentences will run concurrently.

Judge Coetzee did not believe that Pieterson was a good candidate for rehabilitation.

According to the State, Pieterson was out on parole at the time he committed the murders.

He was released in 2016 after serving 10 years of a 20-year sentence for a murder, housebreaking and attempted rape conviction, committed in 2006.

Investigations determined that Mokgele had experienced a history of physical abuse prior to her death.

The post-mortem results indicated that the cause of death was a head injury and smoke inhalation. She was also stabbed several times in her face, body and stomach.

The baby, Elias Mokgele, sustained a stab wound to the face.

Items of evidence found inside Pieterson’s shanty included wet clothes with suspected blood stains, along with an All Star sneaker that was discovered on the roof of his home in Hebron Park. The footprint was similar to the shoe track that was found at the crime scene.

The floor of Pieterson’s shanty was wet and muddy when the police arrived at his home.

DNA evidence of the deceased was also found on one of Pieterson’s T-shirts.

Pieterson pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

He was represented by Heinrich Steynberg from Legal Aid South Africa, while advocate Ronewa Makhaga represented the State.

Previous articleBale’s desire can accelerate fitness return, says Mourinho
Next articleAll staff members set to return to city varsity