Accused husband of slain nurse denied bail

Pietermaritzburg - The local policeman accused of the brutal murder of his wife was denied bail at the city’s magistrates court on Tuesday.

Pietermaritzburg Public Order police unit warrant officer Nkosinathi Shangase, 43, is charged with shooting his wife, Thabsile Doyisa, dead with an R5 rifle on April 22.

According to post-mortem reports, Doyisa was shot four times.

It is alleged that Doyisa, 46, an advanced midwife at Edendale Hospital, had just arrived at her home in Devonshire Road, Napierville, from her shift at around 7 pm on Friday night when her husband shot her in her head at point-blank range with an R5 rifle.

ER24 paramedics who attended the scene said Doyisa was still in her uniform and had already died before their arrival due to her injuries.

Shangase fled the scene before police could arrive, but was arrested a few hours later.

He has indicated he will be pleading not guilty to the murder charge, and denies being at home when Doyisa was shot.

In refusing Shangase bail, Magistrate M Boikhutso said that there was a strong possibility that Shangase, a policeman who knows the dynamics involved in retrieving evidence related to crimes, might destroy or interfere with evidential material in his home – which is the crime scene – if released on bail.

Shangase has since resigned from his position in the SAPS.

The magistrate said the State had a strong case against Shangase.

Aspects of the State’s case against the former policeman include that blood was found on his trousers and shoes, and he tested positive for primer residue (gunpowder residue) on his hands.

The State is still awaiting DNA and ballistic results. The rifle has also not yet been recovered.

The case was adjourned to August 18.

Colleagues of Doyisa’s, who were at court and who declined being named, voiced their ­relief and satisfaction that Shangase was denied bail.

“Our friend deserves justice. Her killer must never be allowed out of prison. Abuse against our women needs to stop,” one emotional nurse said.