Wrestling and show promoter Shane Jaipal was jailed on Tuesday for 20 years for murdering his former lover.

Jaipal, who turns 44 next week, was convicted of murdering Argentina Loutsaris, 39, by dousing her with petrol and setting her alight on the Bluff in Durban on October 21, 1997.

Mr Justice Hillary Squires said the manner in which Loutsaris was murdered evoked "strong revulsion", but that it was the duty of the courts to ensure that righteous anger did not cloud judgment.

The murder could well have been the result of anger or jealousy and, while the presence of a five-litre petrol container in Jaipal's bakkie seemed to indicate premeditation, it was possible he had simply reacted to a confrontation.

Judge Squires said that the trial had been 'unusual' in its complexity

Judge Squires, however, said society needed to be protected from people who gave way to anger in such a manner.

He took into account Jaipal's age and said it was possible he could be rehabilitated.

Judge Squires said that the trial had been "unusual" in its complexity. There had been numerous turns in the evidence, he said.

However, State advocate Santhos Manilall had proved that Loutsaris borrowed a friend's Opel Monza in the early hours of the day she was murdered.

Later in the day, she went shopping, was stopped on the Bluff's Island View Road, in which she lived, and a stocky Asian man was seen near the car just before the petrol was thrown on her.

Jaipal was denied bail, pending application for leave to appeal

Judge Squires said the State and the defence agreed that Loutsaris and Jaipal had been lovers for a considerable time before Loutsaris ended the relationship in 1997.

Jaipal then took to watching Loutsaris's flat and she eventually obtained a peace order against him. There was evidence he had violently attacked her at least twice.

The judge said it was also proved, despite Jaipal's denial, that he had used a white Nissan 1 400 bakkie like the one seen beside the Opel Loutsaris was driving when she was killed. He had access to the bakkie until after the murder, when it was confiscated.

A fingerprint and half a palm print, which were identified as Jaipal's, were found on the Opel.

Jaipal was denied bail pending an application for leave to appeal, which will be heard on August 4.

With acknowledgement to Sue Blaine and Independent Online.