Man Pleads Guilty To Shooting His Ex-wife 12 Times

Ian Rawlins, a resident of Pietermaritzburg, has pleaded guilty to the murder of his ex-wife, Delana Carmen Rawlins. The incident took place on the eve of Mother’s Day in May 2023. Rawlins, who appeared in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, expressed deep remorse for his actions.

In his guilty plea, presented to the court by his defence counsel, Advocate Brad Osborne, Rawlins provided a detailed account of the events that transpired on that fateful day.

He revealed that despite their divorce a month earlier, he and Delana had spent time together, even going shopping for an outfit for her to wear to a party.

Rawlins further disclosed that discussions about Delana’s relationship with another man at the party triggered a heated argument between him and his ex-wife. The argument escalated, resulting in both of them being asked to leave the party.

After leaving the party in separate vehicles, Rawlins realized that he had left his drinks in Delana’s car. He overtook her vehicle and pulled over to the side of the road, with Delana and her companion, Raynard Martin, following behind.

Another argument ensued between Rawlins and Delana as he demanded the return of the clothing he had purchased for her. When she refused, Rawlins admitted to physically trying to remove the clothes from her. Eventually, they separated, and Rawlins started walking back to his car.

However, he soon realized that Delana had his house keys. Rawlins returned to Martin’s vehicle to ask for the keys. In a moment of anger, he drew his firearm with the intention of threatening Delana. Unfortunately, the firearm discharged, and Rawlins continued firing shots at Delana until the gun was empty.

Rawlins confessed that he did not remember the exact number of shots fired but did not dispute that at least 12 shots were aimed at Delana. After the incident, he left the scene and drove to the Pietermaritzburg municipal dump, where he tried to come to terms with his actions.

Eventually, he contacted an attorney who assisted him in surrendering to the police at Alexandra Police Station in Pietermaritzburg.

During the court proceedings, Rawlins shed light on the tumultuous nature of his marriage to Delana. He revealed that their relationship was marked by frequent violent arguments, leading to the issuance of four protection orders against him.