Wife and hitman found guilty of husband’s murder in the Eastern Cape
A 50-year-old woman and a hitman were found guilty of murdering Arthur Vusumzi Themba in February 2017.
The Bhisho High Court found a 50-year-old Mdantsane woman, Nomqondiso Thembu, and a 47-year-old hitman, Simphiwe Wili, guilty of murdering Arthur Vusumzi Thembu in February 2017.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional spokesperson in the Eastern Cape Anelisa Ngcakani said the two were convicted of killing Nomqondiso’s husband, Vusumzi. Furthermore, they were found guilty of conspiring to kill Ludumo Nabi in 2017.
LOOKING FOR A HITMAN
The court heard that Nomqondiso was looking for a hitman to kill her husband when she met Wili. Nomqondiso wanted to cash out her husband’s life insurance and pension funds. She offered Wili R120 000.
Nomqondiso introduced Wili to her husband, Vusumzi, as her cousin. Wili and Vusumzi became close friends until Wili killed him on their way from a soccer match in Mdantsane on 24 February 2017.
Nomqondiso paid Wili R60 000 of the R120 000 in March 2017 after the funeral policies had paid out.
“A few months after the murder of Vusumzi, Nomqondiso met Busiswa Nabi while traveling in a taxi together in Mdantsane. The two women became friends and Busiswa shared her marital problems with Nomqondiso who encouraged her to kill her husband, Ludumo Nabi, to benefit from his insurance and pension,” said Ngcakani.
Nomqondiso then contacted Wili to assist Nabi with the murder of her husband as well.
UNEXPECTED LOVE AFFAIR
While the three were still planning the murder, Wili and Nabi fell in love and a romantic relationship developed.
The Hawks intercepted the planned murder and in November 2017 they arrested Nomqondiso, Wili and Nabi. In March 2019, Nabi was given a suspended sentence and she agreed to testify for the state.
“Prosecutor, State Advocate Deolin Willemse, urged the court to take into account that the proven objective facts, such as Wili being seen with the deceased on the day of the murder, the circumstances under which Wili was seen at the home of the Thembus after the death of the husband, the call records and bank statements of Nomqondiso, as well as the untruthfulness of Nomqondiso and Wili, justified an inference of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Ngcakani.
WIFE AND HITMAN FOUND GUILTY AS CHARGED
Judge Phillip Zilwa found Nomqondiso guilty of murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit murder. Wili was found guilty of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Judge Zilwa said that the state had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Thembu hired Wili to kill her husband and that they had conspired to do the same in respect of the of Ludumo Nabi.
The case has been postponed to Wednesday 26 August 2020 for sentencing.