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Durban - Former Blue Bulls rugby player Phindile Joseph Ntshongwana is expected to be sentenced by the KwaZulu-Natal High Court on Friday for hacking four people to death with an axe.
Judge Irfaan Khalil postponed sentence on Wednesday after hearing argument in mitigation from Ntshongwana's lawyer Themba Mjoli, and in aggravation from prosecutor Rea Mina.
In September Khalil convicted Ntshongwana on four counts of murder, two of attempted murder, one of assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, one of kidnapping, and one of rape.
Ntshongwana killed Thembelenkosini Cebekhulu in Montclair, Durban, on 20 March 2011, Paulos Hlongwa in Lamontville two days later, Simon Ngidi in Umbilo the following day, and an unidentified man some time that week in Yellow Wood Park.
All were hacked to death with an axe. Two of the victims were beheaded.
He also raped and kidnapped a woman. He was charged with attempted murder for attacking two men, one in Umlazi on 21 March 2011, and the other in Lamontville on 23 March.
Mjoli argued on Wednesday that his client needed "to be placed in an environment conducive for him to be rehabilitated, for him to receive treatment".
He said that unlike known serial killers, Ntshongwana had never shown any anti-social behaviour.
He said the court had heard that his client's illness would never be cured, but could be managed.
