A 34-year-old police constable has been sentenced to life in prison by the Johannesburg High Court for murder and other charges, police said on Sunday.

Spokesperson Captain Manyadza Ralidzhivha said Patric Mphahlele and his accomplice, Andries Mogoba (31) were sentenced on Friday.

Ralidzhivha said the constable, based at the Tembisa police station, was arrested in August last year after he severely assaulted his pregnant wife. She had a miscarriage as a result.

"When the officer was incarcerated, it was discovered that he was one of the two armed men (along with Mogoba) who robbed and killed a man in August 2003, at the Winnie Mandela informal settlement, Tembisa."

Ralidzhivha said the two robbed the man of his personal belongings, including his shoes, then shot and killed him.

The shoes were later found at the house of Mogoba's relatives in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo where he had hidden them.

Ralidzhivha said Mphahlele was sentenced to life in prison for murder and 15 years for each of two armed robberies. He was also given three years for the unlawful possession of ammunition, two years for assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm and a year for negligent handling of a firearm.

Mogoba was sentenced to 15 years for robbery, another 15 years for an armed robbery and three years for possession of stolen goods.