AKA, Tibz murder trial to be heard over three months next year
KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Thoba Poyo-Dlwati sternly warned against delays in the trial of five people accused of the murder of rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and his friend, Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane.
Their trial for the 2023 murders will be heard over three months next year.
The pre-trial conference was postponed to 24 July.
The trial of five men accused of the murder of award-winning South African rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and his friend, Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane, will be heard over three months next year.
KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Thoba Poyo-Dlwati revealed this on Thursday when he sternly warned the State and defence to ensure that there were no delays.
'When the matter is set down, you must ensure you will be available. A term is three months. We can't have part-heard matters going on forever. Some of my colleagues (judges) are retiring, and when there are partly heard matters they are dealing with, they have to come back for them. When dates are being arranged, you have to make sure that you arrive for them in that term,' Poyo-Dlwati warned.
READ | AKA, Tibz murder accused appoint former prosecutions boss as their lawyer
Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, 30, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, 21, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, 37, and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande, 29, are charged with the murder of Forbes and Motsoane.
A specific date for the trial, however, has not been set.
Instead, the matter was postponed to 24 July for a pre-trial conference.
At a previous court appearance, KwaZulu-Natal Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Lawrence Gcaba said all the accused would be represented by former acting KwaZulu-Natal director of public prosecutions Simphiwe Mlotshwa, who is now a defence advocate.
However, this is no longer the case.
Mlotshwa will only represent Mkhwanazi and Lindokuhle Ndimande.
Advocate Paul Jorgensen will represent Lindani Ndimande and Gwabeni, and advocate Mkhululi Nkomo will represent Myeza.
Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
On Thursday, Lindani Ndimande entered the dock wearing white Karl Lagerfeld sneakers, a matching leather jacket, and pants. He also wore a fez (Islamic headgear).
Speaking outside court about the extradition of brothers Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande and Malusi Dave Ndimande from Eswatini, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the appeal process was still under way.
'The respondents will have to file their heads of argument, which will be followed by the State. After that, the matter will be set down for hearing in the Eswatini High Court.'
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