William Nkuna received a life sentence at the Mmabatho Circuit Court in Ga-Rankuwa on Thursday for the murder of missing police Constable Francis Rasuge.
”I have come to the conclusion that the only fit and proper sentence to be imposed is that of life imprisonment,” Judge Ronald Hendricks said.
Spectators outside the court broke into cheers and singing as they watched the proceedings from five television screens set up outside.
Nkuna was convicted last month of murdering Rasuge who was last seen with him on August 27 last year.
Nkuna evaded authorities for more than a year and was arrested in a separate case related to car fraud before he was finally brought to trial in October for the murder.
Police at one stage offered a R500 000 reward for his arrest.
Nkuna’s evidence, as the sole defence witness, was rejected in as much as his account differed from that of the state.
State advocate Johann Smit had tried to prove through circumstantial evidence that Nkuna and Rasuge had a turbulent relationship, that Nkuna had used Rasuge’s cellphone and that he withdrew money from her account days after she went missing.
She has not been found. – Sapa