A 33-year-old nurse charged with murdering her husband was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment by the Rustenburg High Court on Thursday.
Judge Ronnie Hendricks found Kealeboga Shuping guilty of murder and arson.
Her husband, Ernest Shuping, died in hospital of burns inflicted at their home in Geelhout Park, Rustenburg, in May 2004.
The state alleged she poured petrol into the bathroom while her husband was taking a bath and set it alight after locking him inside.
He managed to break out and ran naked to the neighbours to seek help.
Passing sentence, Hendricks said Shuping could have divorced her husband instead of killing him.
”You carefully planned the murder and pounced on him at the time he was vulnerable, while he was he was taking a bath,” he said.
He said Shuping went on to throw a brick at her husband while he was in neighbour’s yard.
”You went to the police to cover up for your actions. As a nursing sister you choose to go to the police rather than summoning an ambulance”, he said.
Hendricks said it was clear from evidence that the couple had a rocky marriage in which protection orders were issued against both parties.
Shuping was sentenced three years for arson and 20 years for murder, the sentences to run concurrently.
During the judgement, Shuping listened attentively, folding her arms, grinning every time the judge said she acted irresponsibly. She was wearing a black jersey and black jeans, and covered her hair with a brown hat. — Sapa