Elifasi Msomi
Elifasi Msomi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Elifasi Msomi |
| Cause of death | Hanging |
| Other names | Axe Killer |
| Criminal penalty | Death Sentence |
| Details | |
| Victims | 15 |
Span of crimes | 1953–1955 |
| Country | South Africa |
Date apprehended | 1955 |
Elifasi Msomi AKA The Axe Killer is a South African serial killer who was convicted in 1955 of 15 murders and sentenced to death by hanging. His victims all came from the Umkomaas and Umzimkulu valleys of KwaZulu-Natal.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).
Msomi initially raped and murdered a young women in the presence of his mistress[1], whose blood he kept in a bottle. Unimpressed with his ‘new’ powers, his mistress alerted the police who arrested Msomi. He escaped shortly afterwards, giving credit for his escape to the all powerful Tokoloshe.[2] Msomi returned to his murderous ways, accounting for the lives of 5 children before being re-arrested. He duly escaped again.[1] Msomi was arrested a month later for petty theft. The stolen items turned out to belong to his victims and he was soon fingered as the murderous culprit.
Msomi readily assisted the police in finding some of his victims remains, including a missing skull.[2] Whether he gained further satisfaction from revisiting his crime scenes or felt diminished responsibility in light of the Tokoloshe's influence is unclear. During his trial, Msomi claimed that he was merely a conduit for the evil Tokoloshe. Two psychologists disagreed, stating that Msomi was in fact of much higher than average intelligence and further that he derived sexual pleasure from inflicting pain.[3] (see Sadomasochism) Msomi was sentenced to death by hanging at Pretoria Central Prison.
Msomi’s referrence to the Tokoloshe and his numerous escapes had however caused a high level of consternation amongst the superstitious Zulu population. Upon request, the judge permitted a deputation of nine Zulu Chiefs and Elders to attend the hanging in order to confirm that the Tokoloshe did in fact not save Msomi from his death.[3] Even so, one chief felt that Msomi may return after death as the Tokoloshe himself.[3]
References
- ^ a b ‘‘Blogger’’ : History Bites.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Timewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c ‘‘True Crime Libraries’’ : Worldwide Hangings.