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A former police officer in South Africa, Faku, was sentenced by the High Court of South Africa, Western Cape Division on December 13, 2023. The court, based on the investigation led by Lieutenant Colonel Pretorius and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Office, found Faku guilty of the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Wendy Papu.

The State successfully demonstrated that Faku had lied about being robbed at gunpoint by unknown assailants, a claim he made during the trial. While not charged with premeditated murder, Faku received a life sentence based on strong evidence and compelling arguments presented by State Adv Kepler Uys. In addition to life imprisonment, Faku was sentenced to six months for assault and three years for attempting to defeat the administration of justice.

The court ordered these sentences to run concurrently, and Faku was declared unfit to possess a firearm. The case unfolded when Faku entered the shack where Papu lived, and an argument escalated into violence. Faku shot Papu in the head with his official firearm, leaving her injured in the presence of her sleeping daughters.

To cover up the crime, Faku abandoned his vehicle, firearm, and phone near Strandfontein Beach. He then falsely reported a hijacking and robbery at the deceased's house. During the trial, Faku's credibility crumbled under cross-examination, with 15 witnesses dismantling his version of events.

Judge Constance Nziweni described Faku's actions as evil and revealed an ugly truth behind his seemingly admirable exterior. She found his version fictitious and expressed astonishment at his lack of remorse and accountability. Emphasizing the gender-based violence at the core of the case, Judge Nziweni stated that it was unfortunate for a police officer to be convicted of such a heinous crime.

Following the sentencing, Faku indicated his intention to appeal both the conviction and sentence. Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv Nicolette Bell, commended the investigating team for their vigilance, turning what could have been a cold case into a successful prosecution based on circumstantial evidence."