Mpumalanga man Henry Dlamini was sentenced to life in prison by the Mpumalanga High Court for murder. (Blanchi Costela, Getty Images)

The Mpumalanga High Court on Wednesday sentenced Henry Dlamini to life in prison for murder.

On 20 October 2022, Dlamini fired multiple shots that killed Michelle Jones, a deputy sheriff, who had purchased a home he had been occupying in Nelsville.

Dlamini, 36, first threatened Jones before killing her and injuring a man. 

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said Dlamini threatened Jones the day before the murder when she wanted to change the locks. 

“He banged the door and told the victims that the house belonged to him and no one would reside in his mother’s house. He further threatened to kill them – and, as a result, the victims applied for a protection order against the accused,” said Nyuswa.

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The following day, Dlamini killed Jones and injured the man who accompanied her. 

“On the day of the incident, the victims were parked near a shop and the accused saw them. He walked towards their vehicle and started shooting at them. The surviving victim was shot in the arm, while the deceased suffered injuries to her neck, chest and abdomen,” said Nyuswa. 

Nyuswa said Judge Johannes Hendrickus Roelofse found that Dlamini had intended to kill Jones. 

“The judge said the accused committed a serious crime, a crime against a woman who was defenceless, and that he showed no remorse for his actions.”