Riot Hlatshwayo

Riot Hlatshwayo

A policeman has been arrested following the discovery of his girlfriend's body in his house on Sunday afternoon.

The girlfriend, who was from Volksrust in Mpumalanga, had visited the police constable in Nelspruit on Saturday afternoon.

The couple apparently had a heated argument that eventually led to a physical fight in the early hours of Sunday.

Mpumalanga police spokesman Superintendent Abie Khoabane told Sowetan that the policeman claimed that he left the woman in a room and went to sleep in another room after the fight.

"He also claimed that he found the woman dead on Sunday afternoon when he returned to the room in which he had left her alive shortly after the fight.

"He had apparently left the house in the morning without checking on her and only returned later that afternoon," said Khoabane.

The policeman reported the matter to his colleagues at the Nelspruit police station and they visited the scene.

A spent cartridge was found at the scene and police discovered that she had been shot in the face.

Upon investigation, the police established that their colleague was the suspect. He was arrested and charged with murder.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Nelspruit magistrate's court soon.

Khoabane said the victim's identity was being withheld until her next of kin have been informed.