THE state believes Mugiyo Mabunda’s intention to kill his wife was premeditated.
The ex-cop is standing trial for the murder of his wife Tebogo (39), who he allegedly shot 10 times in 2020 before trying to kill himself.
State prosecutor Moeng Molatudi told the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court sitting in Mbombela on Tuesday, 29 March, that the evidence led by the accused’s stepson and Tebogo’s lawyer Tershia Marshal reflected that Mabunda planned to kill his wife.
Mabunda’s son told the court the couple went to the guest room and when they came out, the accused cocked his gun.
He said he followed the accused, who closed the garage door. But he wasn’t able to see what was happening and walked back into the house and heard several gunshots.
Meanwhile, Marshal testified she was in the process of getting information to continue with the divorce, which the deceased wanted.
Marshall said she heard gunshots while speaking to Tebogo on the phone.
Molatudi said the accused knew that the deceased wanted to divorce him and the evidence of her lawyer was very clear.
“We found evidence that the accused murdered the deceased. He knew the deceased was on a call with her lawyer. That tells us the accused was angered by the deceased’s actions of continuing with consultations with her lawyer,” he said.
Mabunda’s lawyer Johann de Neckersaid it was not usual for the couple to talk outside or in private.
“How do we put that to one side and say he planned the murder? We don’t need to present the evidence of the accused, we are dealing with two people who were married for many years and with three kids.
“Everything happened in a space of the moment. The accused had the wish to die, that is why he shot himself,” he said.
The case has been postponed to 6 April for judgment.
