Mphatsoe Ntjelo of Quthing, who was found guilty of killing four children comprising three of his own and his younger brother, was on Monday sentenced to a concurrent 25-year imprisonment for each of the murders.

In his remarks during sentencing, the presiding judge Justice Molefi Makara stated that the convicted accused committed a serious offence as he killed innocent children in collaboration with his wife for mystical enhancement of wealth.

He pointed out that the court has benefitted from evidence by an expert witness from Social Development as well as contribution from the defence and prosecution lawyers who do not find it legally justifiable to sentence the accused to death.

He stated that the court finds it appropriate to pass a deterrent sentence adding that it has been persuaded to consider an intervention of rehabilitation. He said this is not a typical case where a person should be sentenced to death though that could have been the feeling brought about by the gruesome killings.

The expert witness who was also the witness of the court and Child Welfare Officer from the Ministry of Social Development Ms. Khahliso Mohlauli had earlier testified that she conducted a psychological assessment on the accused in September 2024 at the request of the High Court.

She stated that she discovered that the accused was born on January 03, 1990, and was forced to leave school in 2000 and work as a shepherd. She indicated that he later experienced the deaths of his parents and brother. She said the incidents led to financial hardships and a sense of isolation. 

The witness added that the accused got married at the age of 18 following the demise of his family members as a way of coping with the loss. She indicated that however, one day in 2015, when he came home, he found his wife behaving erratically saying she killed the children and buried them.

She stated that through the assessment, the accused was found to have limited ego, hopelessness and low self-esteem as well as emptiness, rejection and loneliness. She emphasised that childhood experiences shape one's adulthood.

The witness insisted that the accused does not pose any threat to the society adding that his circumstances should be individualised not generalised. She pointed out that although she has found him to have mental health issues, a validation can be made by a psychiatrist. She asked the court to consider the psychological, social and economic circumstances of the accused.

Ntjelo committed the offences in 2014 and 2015. He was found to have acted in concert and in furtherance of common purpose with his wife Mamotsabi Ntjelo and murdered the four deceased whom they mutilated and buried in their house.    

Evidence before court revealed that the accused and his late wife who died following their arrest by the police, killed the children as they were promised by a witchdoctor that their body parts would make a strong muti which would enhance their riches.    

The prosecution was in this case represented by Advocate Thapelo Mokuku while the defense was represented by Adv. Khosi Lesuthu.