Free State man sentenced for murdering girlfriend and 18-month-old
Due to the horrific state of the decomposition, the bodies could not be easily identified. DNA analysis helped identify both bodies.
Pule Abraham Tshabalala was sentenced to life in prison and an additional five years for the murder of his girlfriend and their 18-month-old daughter. The High Court in Kroonstad handed down the sentence following a police investigation. Police received a tip-off about a suspicious house emitting a foul odor and attracting flies.
They located Tshabalala near a property and obtained permission to search the house. As police entered the bathroom, they encountered a pungent smell emanating from within. With police unable to open the door, they removed a paper covering a window to discover the decomposing bodies of an adult woman and a young child on the floor.
DNA analysis confirmed the identities of the victims. Tshabalala was apprehended at the scene and subsequently charged. The deceased's mother informed the authorities that she had not seen her daughter for about two weeks, during which Tshabalala had invited them to visit him.
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