After receiving a life sentence for killing his wife, former Inspector Freddy Mashamba showed no signs of repent. Later, when policemen were escorting him to the police van, he smiled and hugged his girl friend. Instead of crying, he also consoled and hugged his two brothers and a sister, who were weeping after hearing that he is to stay in jail for a great part of his life.

In the Polokwane High Court on Friday, families of the deceased and accused sat on opposite sides of the court, clearly separated by a passage of benches, although the court was not full. There was no smiling and communication between these two families as everybody listened quietly to the judge delivering sentence.

Those who know him very well told Mirror that Freddy Mashamba (43) is a brave man and "Munna a no funesa zwa ntha" meaning a man who needs high class things. At the time of the killing he was a police officer stationed at the Bandelierkop police station just outside Louis Trichardt.

Earlier in the court case, the events that led to the death of the 32-year-old Rudzani Ramango unfolded. Freddy Mashamba was involved in an ugly divorce settlement with his wife, Rudzani. According to some family members, Freddy also fell in love with Tshifhiwa Makhode, a lady who was employed by Rudzani as a hair dresser.

The relationship between the two estranged partners seemed to have worsened gradually. Arguments concerning the divorce settlement and the division of property did not assist matters.

Early on the morning of May 29, 2008, Rudzani and her aunt jumped into a vehicle and tried to get away from an angry Mashamba. The aunt, Ms Patricia Ramango, was driving. When she noticed that Mashamba was following them, she opted to seek refuge at the Louis Trichardt police station. In an effort to get away from him, she ignored stop signs and traffic lights and drove into the parking area behind the charge office.

It was here that Mashamba caught up with them and started shooting at his estranged wife. She was hit by seven bullets in the face and three in the chest while trying to get out of the car. Rudzani died on the scene. The aunt escaped unhurt.

Mashamba appeared in the Musina magistrate´s court and was found guilty of the murder. The case was referred to the Polokwane High Court for sentencing.

On Friday, Judge Matilda Masipa said that Inspector Mashamba deserved a life sentence for the murder, because it needed to serve as a lesson to other police officers that conflict cannot be sorted out in this manner. "No-one is above the law. You deserve to go to jail for life, because you are not a protector, you are a killer," Judge Masipa said.

"We lost our lovely family member, but we are satisfied with the life sentence, because he deserves it," said the aunt of the deceased, Ms Patricia Ramango. "Justice was served and hopefully this will be a lesson to other police officers who are taking advantage and threatening their wives with their guns," said Ramango.

The deceased, Rudzani Ramango, is survived by her two children.