HANG HIM! – Mum’s anger at death row love killer

Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
THE heartbroken mother of a woman killed by her pesty ex-boyfriend has demanded: “Hang him!” Concilia Ngwenya, 46, says she will never forgive her daughter’s killer, Danis David Konson, 62, who was sentenced to death by hanging last week.Her 28-year-old daughter, Siphathisiwe Ncube, was shot three times by love pest Konson, of Parklands in Bulawayo, in September 2012 after calling time on their three-year relationship.

Ngwenya tearfully told Chronicle yesterday she would never forgive Konson.
“My heart still bleeds because of what Konson did to my daughter. She was the sole breadwinner for the family, and I really loved my daughter,” she said, wiping away tears. “Konson deserves to be hanged for his evil deeds.”

Ngwenya was too skint to travel from Lupane to attend the sentencing of her daughter’s killer at the Bulawayo High Court, but she says the judge stood for her and her slain daughter.

“I’m delighted with the outcome. The judge meted out punishment which fits the crime. The death sentence is deserved, although that won’t bring my daughter back.”

Siphathisiwe’s brothers, Meluleki Ncube, 22, and Dingumuzi Ncube, 24, shared their mother’s feelings.
Said Dingumuzi: “The way that my sister was killed – shot without provocation – will haunt me for the rest of my life. “What Konson did was grossly inhuman and he deserves to die. I’ll never forgive him for that.”

Meluleki echoed his brother’s sentiments: “This is the worst thing to ever happen to our family. That man should pay for what he did to my sister and I’m happy with the judgment. He must be hanged. I’ll never forgive him for what he did to Phathi.”
Justice Lawrence Kamocha described Konson as a “wicked and devious person.”

Konson sought a police escort to Tshongogwe in Lupane where Ncube now lived knowing full well that he was going to kill her, the judge said.

“You sought assistance from the police to carry out these devious deeds. You shot her without warning for the reason that she had terminated your relationship,” the judge said as he sentenced the construction worker. “You shot her in the head when she was already lying dead on the ground, further illustrating your wickedness.”

He found Konson guilty of murder with actual intent, noting that the crime was pre-meditated.
“It doesn’t mean that those who are in love must kill when they’re rejected. There’re no extenuating circumstances in this matter and you’re therefore guilty of the murder of Siphathisiwe Ncube with actual intent. The death penalty is inflicted upon you.”

Konson has an automatic right of appeal, and “the State President will decide whether the death sentence is appropriate in this instance”, Justice Kamocha said.

Konson had plied Ncube with gifts and opened a grocery store for her in Lupane. He also bombarded her with text messages promising her a good life – but she still walked out on him after three years.

Konson admitted the September 10, 2012, shooting but had pleaded not guilty. He told his week-long trial that the killing had been accidental, arguing that he was “confused and in a black-out” after walking in on Ncube and finding her with her husband.

But Justice Kamocha said Konson had planned to kill by taking a gun for the visit to Ncube, who had told him in a text message that she had found a new man and was now married.

Far from being provoked by finding Ncube with her husband, Justice Kamocha said Konson was a victim of “self-inflicted provocation” by going where he was not wanted. Konson and Ncube began their relationship in 2008 and in January 2012, the enamoured lover opened a shop for her, which he also helped her run.

In July 2012, Ncube told Konson that she wanted to end the relationship. He tried to persuade her to change her mind without success.
In August that year, in the only meeting between Ncube and Konson after she dumped him, held at his Parklands home, he had threatened her with a gun.

She had subsequently changed her number to avoid contact with him. But on September 9, Konson still sent her an SMS through her mum’s phone, pleading: “Siphathisiwe Ncube I will always love you. Please come back to me just look how lovely you look in this photo that you gave me when you came back from South Africa…I will never ever let the devil get into me again, please forgive me.”

She had replied: “You know what, I am sick and tired of you. I told you I am married and you honestly think I can be back with you.
“I am waiting for you with my husband and you better come with a gun but once you miss, you are in trouble.”
In response, Konson wrote: “This is the last message. Goodbye Patty, won’t phone you again ok . . .”

That same night, the court heard, Konson armed himself with a CZ 6.35mm pistol and drove to Lupane, arriving the following morning at about 3AM.

Riding with an unidentified female companion, Konson went to Jotsholo Police Station and asked for help from the police on the pretext that he wanted them to solve a dispute between him and Ncube, telling cops that they were fighting over a business deal.

Konson had indicated that he only wanted to check if renovations were made at their shop using the material which he had supplied.
Constable Wisdom Matupire accompanied him to Tshongogwe Business Centre where the meeting was to take place.

But prosecutors said on arrival at Ncube’s home at Tshongogwe, Konson’s mood changed when he saw her shirtless husband emerge from the bedroom.

Konson, said Angeline Munyeriwa, prosecuting, asked to see the grocery store he had opened for Ncube and asked her to accompany him for directions. They drove to Mateteni Business Centre together with his female passenger and Constable Matupire.

When they arrived at the shop, Konson walked inside while Ncube remained standing outside. He greeted Thandiwe Ndlovu, a shop attendant, and then suddenly stormed out. With very little said, he shot Ncube twice in the head and once on the thigh. She died instantly.

The police officer — shot once on the chest — survived the gun rampage by running for dear life, but would die months later in a car accident. Konson claimed in court he suffered a “black-out” and pulled the trigger.

Prosecutors said in an effort to conceal evidence, Konson went back to the shop and tried to shoot Thandiwe, who escaped by jumping out of a window. He tried to chase her but she outpaced him.

Konson and his female chum then jumped into their car and sped off, using a different route to avoid being intercepted by the police. He was arrested on the same day at Gwelutshena Business Centre. Police recovered a magazine with four rounds of ammunition.

He then led investigators back to the crime scene where empty cartridges and two bullet heads were found. Another bullet head was found on Ncube’s body during autopsy and was positively linked to Konson’s gun.

Defence lawyer, Robert Ndlovu, told the court Konson had been provoked and was still in a state of shock after Ncube ended their relationship abruptly.

Ndlovu said Ncube informed Konson that she was already married to another man in a mere two weeks after their relationship had ended.

Konson also claimed during the trial that Ncube had provoked him by stating in a text message: “I was only using you.”
This was strongly rejected by the prosecution and Ncube’s family who said it was a calculated attempt by Konson to project her as a woman of loose morals.

The community of Bhuyu, in Jotsholo, where Siphathisiwe operated a grocery shop, has no kind words for Konson.
“What Konson did left the entire community completely devastated. It’s a gruesome murder that continues to haunt us and he must be hanged for what he did to Siphathisiwe,” said local man, Stephen Moyo.

Another villager, Marko Ndlovu, said: “I was really excited when I read in the Chronicle that Konson has been sentenced to death. What he did was evil and equally, he must pay the ultimate penalty.”