Latest news with #AmantleSamane
eNCA
14 hours ago
- eNCA
Man accused of raping, murdering Amantle Samane (6) back in court
JOHANNESBURG - The man accused of raping and murdering six-year-old Amantle Samane is back in court. He's expected to plead to the charges against him at the High Court in Johannesburg. Phethe Simiao faces charges of murder, rape, kidnapping, and contravening the Immigration Act. Amantle disappeared from her Orlando West home last year, sparking a widespread search. Her body was later discovered inside Simiao's shack in nearby Orlando East. The 24-year-old was arrested in October and has remained in custody after abandoning his bail bid.
The Citizen
14 hours ago
- The Citizen
Amantle Samane case: Pethe Sara Simao to plead guilty on all counts — lawyer
The case has been postponed. The legal representative for Pethe Sara Simao, the Mozambican national accused of the rape and murder of Amantle Samane, said the accused will plead guilty on all four counts. Simao made a brief appearance in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division in Johannesburg, on Monday. Speaking to the SABC News following his appearance, Advocate Ndivhuwo Masindi confirmed his client had decided to plead guilty on all four counts. ALSO READ: Five gruesome crimes that shocked South Africa in 2024 'Before we go on trial, we have to receive copies of the docket, which we have received. We perused it. After a thorough consultation with my client, we decided that he will plead guilty on all four counts. We took the decision after receiving the disclosure from the state,' said the advocate. 'He indicated that he does not want to waste the state's time by going for a long trial. This is why he has now decided to plead guilty.' The Simao is facing charges of kidnapping, rape, murder and contravention of the Immigration Act. The case has been postponed to Friday, 15 August 2025. Amantle Samane case In October last year, the community of Orlando East in Soweto went from house to house searching for a man responsible for the rape and murder of six-year-old Samane. Samane's half-naked body was found in an empty shack two streets away from her home. ALSO READ: NPA confident of conviction in Amantle Samane murder case Police reported that the girl was playing with other children when the suspect, Simao, called her to his rented shack at one of the houses in Orlando. He allegedly raped and killed the girl inside the shack. He went into hiding following the incident. Community cooperation led to the arrest of the suspect. Simiao, who abandoned his bail application, was previously hospitalised after being assaulted in jail. When he appeared in court on 1 November 2024, the accused complained of injuries to his stomach, legs, and body. READ NEXT: NPA claims it has its 'ducks in a row' as Amantle Samane murder case transferred to high court
Eyewitness News
27-05-2025
- Eyewitness News
Trial date set for the alleged rapist and murderer of a 6-year-old Soweto girl
JOHANNESBURG - A trial date has been set for Pethe Sara Simiao, the man accused of raping and murdering a six-year-old girl in Soweto. The 24-year-old Mozambican national was arrested in October last year, after the body of six-year-old Amantle Samane was found inside his shack in Orlando, Soweto. READ: Amantle Samane murder-accused due back in court After several appearances at the Protea Magistrates Court, his matter was transferred to the Johannesburg High Court where he now faces four charges, including kidnapping, murder, rape, and contravening the Immigration Act. During the early stages of the case, Simiao abandoned his bid for bail after the State indicated it would strongly oppose his release due to his undocumented status in South Africa. He appeared in court on Tuesday to wrap up his pre-trial hearing, looking dishevelled and keeping his head hung low. Usually, this stage allows accused persons to plead guilty or not guilty. But Simiao has only indicated an intention to plead guilty to one count, relating to immigration violations. The court heard that formal pleas would be entered at the start of the trial. "Now this matter has been postponed for plea and trial to the 31st of July 2025. The estimated duration for this trial is to the 8th of August 2025." Simiao will remain in custody until his next court appearance.
