Latest news with #Thomo
The Citizen
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Unutilised public buildings in Mpumalanga converted into shelters for GBV victims
During an infrastructure imbizo held in the city, the minister of public works and infrastructure, Dean MacPherson, reiterated his promise to uplift dilapidated public buildings to be utilised for public good, particularly to address the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country. 'We have an important role to play in helping to provide the facilities needed to safeguard the most vulnerable in our society. Between 2019 and 2025, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure handed over only two properties to be used as GBV shelters. Yet, within just one year, we have more than tripled that number; 15 properties have now been handed over. In the weeks and months ahead, we look forward to increasing this number as we work to bring an end to gender-based violence,' said MacPherson at the Nelsville Community Hall on May 19. MacPherson has already handed over 10 properties to the Mpumalanga Provincial Government to be used as shelters for victims of GBV. The 10 properties, of which five are located in Emanzana, four in Lothair and one in Delmas, had previously stood vacant and unutilised, but will now be renovated by the provincial government. ALSO READ: KwaMhlanga entrepreneurs walk 300km to provincial government for change 'Of the 52 districts across the country, 47 already have such facilities and work is being expedited to ensure the remaining five receive shelters as soon as possible. The handover of these properties is part of the work we are doing to ensure that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure plays a meaningful role in improving the lives of all South Africans,' MacPherson said. The Mpumalanga MEC for public works, roads and transport, Thulasizwe Thomo, joined the imbizo. ALSO READ: Residents fed up with lack of by-law enforcement by City of Mbombela Thomo said the engagement forms part of broader efforts to address both systemic and community-related challenges in infrastructure development. 'These issues often include disruptions caused by protests or dissatisfaction with project execution. These coupled with systemic challenges such as project delays, cash flow constraints and inconsistencies in contract governance, impact project delivery timelines and hinder the growth of local small, medium and micro enterprises and emerging contractors. The imbizo created a valuable platform for collaboration between the national and provincial government to address these challenges in infrastructure delivery and highlighted the need for practical solutions to ensure more effective and community-focused development,' said Thomo. The imbizo was attended by some vocal community members who took the chance to voice their concerns to MacPherson and Thomo. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Los Angeles Times
14-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Trial begins for woman accused of masterminding fatal shooting in Fountain Valley
A 29-year-old woman recruited a 'killer with a smile' to gun down a friend in Fountain Valley she suspected of leaking her hiding place from an ex-boyfriend, a prosecutor told jurors Wednesday, while the defendant's attorney argued the shooter 'went rogue' and said her client had nothing to do with it. Mary Diedra Chavez is charged with murder with special circumstances of lying in wait for the victim and conspiracy to commit murder. Co-defendant Oliver Reynaldo Leon, who is facing the death penalty, is set to go on trial separately. Chavez, known as Mumbles, had been convicted on drug dealing and forcing currency and was on probation when she was accused of 'masterminding' the July 19, 2021, execution-style killing of 26-year-old Phia Marie Albanese, Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. Nick Thomo said in court papers. In July of 2021, Chavez was 'dating' Gustavo Alvarezmoreno, whose nickname was Clumsy, while he was in prison for carjacking, Thomo said. Previously, she had been dating 'J.J.' and was the getaway driver in an attack on her ex-boyfriend, Thomo J.J. survived the attack, she feared retaliation and began 'bouncing around from Airbnb to Airbnb to hide from J.J.,' Thomo said in his opening statement of the trial. Her friend, Albanese, was also dating someone behind bars, so the two agreed to hang out, Thomo said. 'Guess who shows up at her door? Thomo said. 'J.J.' Chavez figured Albanese told J.J. where to find the defendant, Thomo said. 'Consumed by her rage over a friend's betrayal,' she 'invited' Leon and other associates to get together for a meeting to plan revenge, Thomo alleged. 'They all decided Phia has to die,' Thomo said. Police were called at 6:11 p.m. July 19, 2021, to 10372 Amberwood Circle regarding a traffic collision and found the victim's body in a Volkswagen Jetta, which was still in drive and on a front lawn, Thomo said. She was still buckled in the driver's seat and sustained three gunshot wounds to the back of her head and one to her left hand, Thomo said. Police found a receipt for the Residence Inn in Tustin in the vehicle and when they went to the room the victim rented they talked to Lisa Bergstrom, who told investigators Albanese had received a phone call alerting her that someone was vandalizing her car, Thomo said. The prosecutor alleged this was part of the plan to 'lure' the victim out of the hotel to kill her. When the two went out to check the Jetta, Chavez drove up in a Mercedes Benz with Leon and another man, Thomo said. Albanese left with Chavez and the others, Thomo said. Video surveillance from the hotel showed the Mercedes entering the parking lot at 4:44 p.m. the day of the killing, Thomo said. Albanese's vehicle left the hotel at 5:40 p.m. with Chavez in the front passenger seat, while one of her friends trailed in Chavez's Mercedes, Thomo said. 'This is not a whodunnit,' Thomo said. 'The shooter is Mr. Leon. The mastermind is the defendant.' Chavez drove her friends back to Los Angeles and dropped them off after the fatal shooting, Thomo said. Some of the evidence in the case will come from jailhouse phone calls, Thomo said. Chavez and her boyfriend discussed the hit on the victim, he alleged. Leon 'is the guy you bring around when you want someone killed,' Thomo said. After the shooting, Chavez called her boyfriend in jail and 'tried to be a sophisticated crook,' feigning surprise at Albanese's killing, Thomo said. 'She pretends like she didn't know what happened to Phia,' Thomo said. 'She tries to set up her alibi, but [her boyfriend] doesn't catch on,' so she changes the subject, Thomo said. Leon is 'a killer with a smile... Those are his words, not mine,' Thomo said. At one point in a jailhouse call, Leon expressed disappointment that his photo wasn't included in a newspaper account of the killing and referred to himself as a killer with a smile,' Thomo said. Chavez's attorney, Jessica Ann Sweeney of the Orange County public defender's office, said Leon 'went rogue,' and said the 'situation was out of Mary's control.' Chavez 'never wanted Oliver to kill Phia. She's not guilty of murder or lying in wait,' Sweeney said. 'The truth is this was a chaotic, drug-fueled series of events,' Sweeney said. Chavez had survived childhood sexual abuse, and her ex-boyfriend had beaten her while she was pregnant, Sweeney said. At the time she was trying to pull her life back together, the defense attorney said. Chavez was staying with Jennifer Jacobs in a rented Airbnb at the time, Sweeney said. Jacobs told investigators Chavez admitted directing the killing of the victim, Thomo said, but Sweeney told jurors that the witness hada motive to lie as she cut a plea deal. Chavez 'was hiding from' her ex-boyfriend, Sweeney said. She called Leon for protection, Sweeney said. 'Her main concern was getting out of that Airbnb alive,' Sweeney said. Chavez even left behind a letter for her godmother in case she was killed, Sweeney said. Chavez never told Leon to kill the victim, and 'she did consider Phia her friend,' Sweeney said. 'She just wanted Oliver there for protection,' Sweeney said. 'She didn't want Oliver to hurt Phia. There was no plan. There was no agreement.' Leon ingested methamphetamine before the shooting and 'got angry and impatient,' Sweeney said. Before the shooting, Leon told Chavez 'to get out of the car,' Sweeney said. Chavez 'thought she would be next' to get killed, Sweeney said. In the past, Chavez told Leon not to beat someone up, and he honored that, so the defendant thought he wouldn't kill Albanese, Sweeney said. 'She thought she could trust him on his word and obviously she couldn't,' Sweeney said. 'Oliver promised not to do anything.'
