Pitch Black Afro is a free man after spending three years in jail for the murder of his wife.
The 44-year-old rapper, born Thulani Ngcobo, was initially charged with murder which was later changed to culpable homicide following the death of Catherine Modisane.
Modisane succumbed to blunt force trauma to the head on December 31 2018. She was found dead at a bed and breakfast establishment in Johannesburg.
Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed to Sunday World that Ngcobo has been released from jail.
“The department can confirm that Thulani Ngcobo was released as his sentence expired on 18 August 2023,” said Nxumalo.
“He benefited from the special remission of sentence.”
Nxumalo said Ngcobo was serving 10 years of which five was suspended for a period of five years with effect from June 19 2020.
“Culpable homicide is amongst the offences covered by the special remission of sentences. There are no conditions to his release as his sentence has expired.”
Handing down the judgment in 2020, judge J du Plessis said he could not find that the rapper intentionally killed his wife because both of them were heavily intoxicated on the day of her death.
Du Plessis noted that the rapper had negligently caused her death, saying he did this by forcefully pushing her against the wall after an argument.
The judge said the rapper’s argument during trial that he was forced to confess to the murder did hold some water, as he also confirmed in his evidence that he indeed pushed his wife against the wall of the room they were booked in.
Also Read: Pitch Black Afro sentenced to 10 years imprisonment
Pitch Black Afro guilty of culpable homicide
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