A 45-year-old man wanted by British police over the murder of his wife and two daughters in Great Denham has pleaded guilty to firearms and immigration offences in South Africa ahead of an extradition hearing.
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, who is also known as Mark Tshuma, appeared before magistrates in Johannesburg yesterday (Tuesday, 8 September).
Court appearance
The Crown Prosecution Service in England has authorised three counts of murder against Tshuma following the deaths of 42-year-old Nothabo Zandile Tshuma and her daughters Natalie, 15, and five-year-old Nala.
Read: Family of Great Denham murder victims release statement following Johannesburg hearing
South African prosecutors confirmed Tshuma entered guilty pleas to illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, and entering South Africa as a fugitive under the Immigration Act as part of a plea deal.
Tshuma, a British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage, was arrested in Johannesburg on 10 July following an international search supported by Interpol.
Local police in South Africa said he was found with a gun and ammunition bought in the country, which officers suspect he was going to use to kill himself.
The firearms charge carries a potential 15-year prison sentence for first-time offenders.
Extradition hearing
An extradition hearing is due to take place in South Africa on Thursday (10 September) to transfer Tshuma back to the UK.
South African authorities confirmed they will move to extradite him once local court proceedings conclude.
Tshuma could also face sentencing for the South African firearms offences later.
Bedfordshire Police believe Tshuma left the UK on 4 July, travelling to Zimbabwe and then South Africa before emergency services found the victims.
Read: Man arrested in South Africa over Great Denham murders
An overseas relative contacted authorities in England on 6 July after not hearing from the family for several days.
Officers carried out a welfare check at an address linked to the family that day before visiting the family home in Carnoustie Drive in the early hours of 7 July, where the bodies were discovered.
Statements from coroner’s officers revealed the mother died from “head injuries” while her children died from “blunt force head injuries”.
Following a post-mortem examination, the cause of death for the family members was listed as “blunt force trauma”.
Read: Blunt force trauma caused Great Denham family deaths, post-mortem finds
IOPC investigation
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating Bedfordshire Police’s contact with the mother and her children before their deaths.
Bedfordshire Police made a mandatory referral to the watchdog on 7 July, followed by a voluntary conduct referral concerning a police constable on 8 July.
