A 31-year-old sangoma who lured his client to a secluded bush under the guise of performing a cleansing ritual before murdering and beheading him has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Atamelang Regional Court in North West.

William Thibedi was convicted of premeditated murder after the court found that he had deliberately used the purported traditional ritual to isolate the deceased before killing him.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence on Wednesday, saying the case demonstrated the consequences for people who exploit the trust of vulnerable victims for criminal purposes.

The murder dates back to January 2019, when the deceased approached Thibedi seeking assistance with a cleansing ritual.

According to evidence presented in court, Thibedi enlisted the assistance of his younger brother and a friend and arranged for the ritual to take place at a secluded bush area at night.

When they arrived, Thibedi began the ritual by pouring water mixed with traditional medicine over the deceased.

He then instructed his younger brother and friend to move away, claiming that the next stage of the ritual was confidential and could only be conducted in private.

The two men complied, leaving Thibedi alone with his client.

It was during this period that Thibedi murdered the deceased and beheaded him.

The younger brother and friend later returned to the scene and were horrified to find Thibedi cutting off the deceased’s head with a knife.

When confronted, Thibedi allegedly claimed that his ancestors had instructed him to carry out the killing.

He then dug a grave and buried the deceased’s body.

The victim’s head and hands were placed inside a bucket, which Thibedi removed from the scene.

The NPA said Thibedi also threatened his younger brother and friend with dire consequences if they revealed what had happened.

The deceased’s family, meanwhile, reported him missing.

The murder remained undisclosed for almost four years before information about the killing came to light in December 2022.

According to the NPA, Thibedi had a dispute with his younger brother, who threatened to expose the murder.

Their cousin overheard the argument and informed other family members about what had been discussed.

The information eventually reached the deceased’s family, who approached the police.

A case was opened at Madibogo Police Station, and Thibedi was arrested in December 2022.

Following his arrest, Thibedi made a confession and pointed out locations where he had buried the deceased’s remains.

Police subsequently recovered the victim’s head and the bucket in which it had been concealed.

During the trial, the State relied on evidence from several witnesses, including Thibedi’s younger brother, his friend, family members and investigating officer Sergeant Magakolodi Moribe.

The State was represented by Advocate Edward Manicus.

In closing arguments, the prosecution argued that its evidence was direct, corroborated and free from material contradictions.

The State submitted that the evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that Thibedi had deliberately planned and carried out the murder.

The court agreed, finding that the evidence overwhelmingly established Thibedi’s guilt and convicting him of premeditated murder.

During sentencing proceedings, State Prosecutor Itumeleng Lobese presented aggravating circumstances to the court.

The prosecution also placed Victim Impact Statements before the court, compiled by Court Preparation Officer Thembinkosi Madiba.

The statements detailed the emotional and psychological devastation suffered by the deceased’s family following his murder.

The State argued that the seriousness of the crime, its premeditated nature and Thibedi’s exploitation of the deceased’s trust justified the maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The court agreed and sentenced Thibedi to life imprisonment.

He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West Division, Dr Rachel Makhari, welcomed the sentence, saying the case demonstrated that the criminal justice system would respond firmly to violent crimes involving the exploitation of vulnerable people.

“This sentence sends a strong message that the criminal justice system will deal decisively with those who exploit vulnerable and unsuspecting individuals for criminal purposes,” Makhari said.

She said the NPA remained committed to securing justice for victims and their families while holding perpetrators of violent crimes accountable.

The NPA said it would continue prioritising serious and violent crimes and protecting the rights, dignity and safety of members of society.