Lindokuhle Cele's killer sentenced
The 32-year-old man who killed Durban musician Lindokuhle Cele has been handed a 25-year sentence following his appearance at the Durban High Court on Tuesday.
Cele, who was an LGBTQI+ activist, was stabbed in February last year, in an apparent hate crime.
Mvuyisi Noguda pleaded guilty, claiming he stabbed Cele out of anger.
He told the court he believed the 23-year-old aspiring musician had drugged and raped him at a friend's house at a New Year's Day gathering a month earlier.
But the court rejected his guilty plea.
READ: Lindokuhle Cele's family wants harsh sentence for convicted killer
As she handed down her sentence today, Judge Narini Hiralall said the defence couldn't prove the alleged rape, which wasn't reported to the police.
She also said Noguda's testimony was full of holes.
The court had heard how 18 of the 21 stab wounds Cele suffered resulted in his death.
But the judge said the State failed to prove the murder was premeditated.
