Man sentenced to life for murder of actor Sibusiso Khwinana

Julies Lucas was handed an additional 23 years for robbery and being in the country illegally.

The 25-year-old was stabbed outside the Sterland cinema in Pretoria during what is believed to have been a cell phone robbery.

The incident happened after a screening of the movie 'Matwetwe' in which he played the lead role.

He was attacked while waiting for an Uber with ‘Matwetwe’ co-star Tebatso Mashishi.

State prosecutor Jeffery Nethononda said Lucas was an opportunistic crininal and this offence should not be mistaken for a robbery gone wrong, but that Lucas had a clear intention to kill Khwinana.

Delivering her judgement, Judge Portia Phahlane ordered that after serving his sentence, Lucas be deported back to Tanzania.

"The only appropriate sentence for him was that of imprisonment because he showed no remorse and had no respect and understanding of the importance of taking an oath, because he lied several times during his testimony."

His application for leave to appeal the conviction and sentence was dismissed.

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