Accused in murder case now wants new lawyer
28 August 2008, 08:17
By Natasha Joseph
The trial of nine men accused of murdering a young lesbian more than two years ago has been postponed because one of the accused now wants a new attorney.
The man has claimed that he had been "told" by a police officials to confess to the crime, thus his need for a lawyer.
Magistrate Raadiyah Wathen agreed to this request, but warned Mace that if he did not have a new private attorney when the trial resumes on September 4, he would be forced to accept a Legal Aid Board representative or to conduct his own defence.
Zoliswa Nkonyana, 18, was kicked, beaten and stabbed to death by a mob of about 20 young men in Khayelitsha in February 2006, allegedly because of her sexual orientation. Only nine of her alleged killers have been arrested.
The nine seemed relaxed when they appeared.
One suspect, Themba Dlepu, laughed and grinned while prosecutor Alfred Isaacs told the nine that they were charged with one count of murder and two of attempted murder, and that they faced life imprisonment if convicted.
Dlepu also winked at his co-accused as they all pleaded not guilty to murder.
Eight of the accused pleaded not guilty to the first attempted murder charge.
The fourth accused, Sicelo Mace, said: "I don't know" when asked how he pleaded on this count. All nine pleaded not guilty to the second attempted murder charge.
Isaacs then tried to have a written confession, apparently made to police by Mace, admitted as evidence.
Mace's advocate, Vernon Jantjies, agreed to this, but Mace objected, saying he had made the confession because the investigating officer told him to do so.
After a brief adjournment, Jantjies told the court that his client wanted a new lawyer because there was "a conflict of instructions" relating to Mace's confession.
natasha.joseph@inl.co.za
The trial of nine men accused of murdering a young lesbian more than two years ago has been postponed because one of the accused now wants a new attorney.
The man has claimed that he had been "told" by a police officials to confess to the crime, thus his need for a lawyer.
Magistrate Raadiyah Wathen agreed to this request, but warned Mace that if he did not have a new private attorney when the trial resumes on September 4, he would be forced to accept a Legal Aid Board representative or to conduct his own defence.
Zoliswa Nkonyana, 18, was kicked, beaten and stabbed to death by a mob of about 20 young men in Khayelitsha in February 2006, allegedly because of her sexual orientation. Only nine of her alleged killers have been arrested.
The nine seemed relaxed when they appeared.
One suspect, Themba Dlepu, laughed and grinned while prosecutor Alfred Isaacs told the nine that they were charged with one count of murder and two of attempted murder, and that they faced life imprisonment if convicted.
Dlepu also winked at his co-accused as they all pleaded not guilty to murder.
Eight of the accused pleaded not guilty to the first attempted murder charge.
The fourth accused, Sicelo Mace, said: "I don't know" when asked how he pleaded on this count. All nine pleaded not guilty to the second attempted murder charge.
Isaacs then tried to have a written confession, apparently made to police by Mace, admitted as evidence.
Mace's advocate, Vernon Jantjies, agreed to this, but Mace objected, saying he had made the confession because the investigating officer told him to do so.
After a brief adjournment, Jantjies told the court that his client wanted a new lawyer because there was "a conflict of instructions" relating to Mace's confession.
natasha.joseph@inl.co.za
- This article was originally published on page 4 of The Cape Times on August 28, 2008
