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southafricaFour men have received 18 year jail sentences for stabbing to death a lesbian in South Africa in 2006.

 

The Cape Town court found that 19-year-old Zoliswa Nkonyana was stoned and stabbed nine times in February 2006 because she was living openly as a lesbian.

Lubabalo Ntlabathi, Sicelo Mase, Luyanda Londzi and Mbulelo Damba were found guilty in October, and sentenced yesterday.

Five other people were acquitted.

The stabbing took place just meters from Zoliswa’s home and had eye witnesses, but it has taken six years for a conviction to be passed.

Gay rights groups have said that this is an important case because it is the first time a South African court has recognised that the victim was killed because of their sexual orientation.

Her stepfather told the Sowetan newspaper “They did not accept responsibility for what they did and we are happy that when we asked for a lengthy jail term, the magistrate agreed to that,”

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