Tax argument fails to keep man out of jail
A man convicted of murdering a 64-year-old man has argued he should not be sent to jail so tax payers do not have to foot the bill, The Star newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Meschack Sono Hlazo, 33, told Judge Vivian Tlhapi that the tax implications for citizens would be huge as they would have to pay for his life-long stay in jail.
"The public would also not be interested to see me go to jail for life.
They would want me to have a second chance," Hlazo said while conducting his own defence in mitigation of sentence.
He was convicted of killing Stephan Carl Mantha during a robbery in Kameeldrift on October 20, 2007 by strangling him with tape.
Mantha was a manager at Fern Gold Furnishers, where Hlazo did building work from time to time.
Tlhapi however sentenced Hlazo to an effective 25 years in prison, the newspaper reported.
The sentence was reportedly handed down in the High Court in Pretoria.
(File photo: Gallo Images)