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murder in hostage drama

CRIME SCENE: Police carry the body of Tshepo Mokhele after he killed his lover and shot himself. 11/01/2009. Pic. Veli Nhlapo. © Sowetan.
CRIME SCENE: Police carry the body of Tshepo Mokhele after he killed his lover and shot himself. 11/01/2009. Pic. Veli Nhlapo. © Sowetan.

Katlego Moeng

Katlego Moeng

A man killed his girlfriend, later shot and critically injured a police officer before turning the gun on himself , in full view of his neighbours in Sebokeng on the Vaal.

Tshepo Mokhele, 30, murdered his girlfriend Queen Sithole, 24, in their house before running into a nearby house and holding its owner, 51-year-old Sarafina Molothale hostage for four hours.

When police and hostage negotiators were called to the scene, Mokhele went beserk and shot one of the police officers in the face.

"When police arrived at the house, they were greeted with several bullets as the suspect shot randomly," said police spokesperson inspector Kinnie Steyn.

Constable PA Molefe of Evaton police station was shot in the face and is said to be in stable condition in hospital.

Police said Mokhele and Sithole had been live-in partners but it was not clear what had led to the murder.

It took the hostage negotiating team, led by commander Deon Nieuwenhuizen, hours to convince the suspect to come out. However, Mokhele came out of the house with Molothale and to everyone's surprise shot himself in the head.

"He did not shoot his girlfriend as there is no bullet wound. But there are visible injuries, we are not sure at this stage what caused the injuries. We will conduct a postmortem, but at this stage it is alleged that he murdered her," explained Steyn.

Mokhele used an unlicensed gun with no serial number.

The police have opened a case of murder, attempted murder and suicide.

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