Woman accused of shooting police officer boyfriend dead appears in court

A woman accused of fatally shooting her police officer boyfriend appeared briefly in the Howick Magistrate’s Court on Thursday afternoon, shedding tears while standing in the dock. Sbulele Khumalo (33) faces a charge of culpable homicide after she allegedly shot and killed her boyfriend, Constable Nkosiyethu Mkhize, at his home in the Korea section of Mpophomeni, near Howick, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The incident has sent shockwaves through the Mpophomeni community and the policing fraternity, where colleagues have been mourning the loss of the 32-year-old officer.

Members of the Hawks are investigating a case of murder following the fatal shooting of a police officer in Mpophomeni. “It is alleged that a police constable was fatally shot by his girlfriend after an argument,” said KwaZulu-Natal Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo, the Pietermaritzburg Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit. Mkhize was attached to the Pietermaritzburg public order policing (POP) unit.During the brief court appearance, Khumalo appeared visibly emotional.

As she stood before the magistrate, she lowered her head and wiped away tears, her face strained with emotion. The state has indicated that bail is opposed pending verification of Khumalo’s alternative residential address. The matter was postponed to March 19 for a formal bail application.

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Khumalo will remain in custody at the Howick police station until her next court appearance. Meanwhile, Mkhize’s funeral will be held at his home KwaHhaza near Mpophomeni on Saturday.

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