Lovers in court for allegedly beheading cop

Two lovers accused of beating and beheading a Cape Town policeman will be tried in the Western Cape High Court.

The Daily Voice reported today that Barnabas Sentiwe and his partner, Phumla Veli, appeared in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court yesterday in connection with the murder of Constable Monwabisi Mnyombolo in October 2009.

According to the newspaper, magistrate Deon van der Spuy transferred the case to the high court, where the two will stand trial on February 22.

Veli abandoned her application for bail and told the court this would help speed up the legal process.

She and Sentiwe allegedly murdered the 29-year-old policeman in their home in Mfuleni, and buried his body and head in the back yard.

Mnyombolo was reported missing on October 26 2009. His remains were discovered almost two years later by the new owner of the house.

- Sapa