Latest news with #murderplot
News24
3 days ago
- General
- News24
Tebogo Thobejane pleas for privacy as ex-boyfriend's attempted murder bail hearing postponed
It was yet another brief appearance at the Alexandra Magistrates' Court on Monday, 19 May. Appearing for the second time in the case of his alleged plot to murder socialite and actress Tebogo Thobejane, Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala stood bold in an all-black outfit. Matlala was arrested on 14 May in Midrand by a crime intelligence unit after a two-year-long investigation into an incident that took place at a Sandton club. In October 2023, Tebogo was outside Saints Champagne Lounge with her friend and her driver when three hit-men fired multiple shots at them, leaving her unscathed but her friend wheelchair-bound. Two of the hitmen, Musa Kekana and Floyd Mabusela, were then arrested about a year later, marking a breakthrough in the case. In a recent statement by Tebogo, she laments how difficult the past two years have been. 'One of the hardest parts of this entire experience has been facing the people who were with me that night - the ones who were hurt alongside me. I've had to find the strength to express my sorrow to their families, and to live with the pain that they were affected because of a situation tied to me. It's something that stays with me everyday.' She adds that she's on a journey of healing and is thankful for the grace and support she's received. 'Despite everything, I remain incredibly grateful to the family for showing me grace, compassion and not placing blame where there is already so much hurt. I will continue to pray for them and support their healing too.' More than anything, she's hopeful that justice will prevail. Meanwhile, the man behind it all is set to remain in police custody until his formal bail hearing set to sit on 30 May. Both the state and Matlala's attorneys agreed upon this in the last appearance due to electricity problems. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirms the postponement. 'The Alexandra Magistrates' Court has postponed Vusimuzi Matlala's (49) bail application to 30 May 2025, for a formal bail hearing, following an agreement between both parties due to the unavailability of electricity.' The NPA concluded by saying that the accused will remain in custody pending his formal bail application. It was also revealed that Matlala would be represented by a new legal team. Speaking to Drum on the sidelines, Matlala's previous attorney advocate Cyril Mlotshwa confirmed that Matlala's family have appointed a new instructing attorney. 'We are from outside the jurisdiction (KZN) so we are not familiar with these surroundings, so it makes sense.'
The Sun
23-05-2025
- The Sun
Mum orders contract killing of 12-year-old daughter paying friend £930 to drown her because they ‘constantly argue'
A MUM has been arrested in Russia after allegedly hiring a pal to drown her 12-year-old daughter because they 'constantly argue'. The woman, named only as Svetlana, is said to have tried to pay a male friend £930 to kill her child by throwing her into a river in the Chelyabinsk region. 4 4 4 Unbeknown to her, the schoolgirl had been eavesdropping behind a door — and overheard her mum's chilling murder plot. Svetlana, 46, allegedly told the man she was 'tired' of her daughter's 'bad behaviour' and their 'constant arguments'. She then sent the girl off with the would-be killer — named as Andrey, 36 — in the Izmailovsky settlement, it has been claimed. 'When they were walking along the road, the schoolgirl was very afraid and worried,' reported Shot news outlet, citing law enforcement. 'But the man told her everything and promised to protect her. 'He hid the girl at his home and went to the police.' He told cops Svetlana had offered cash to have her daughter drowned in the Bolshaya Karaganka River. The mum-of-four was detained and now faces up to 15 years in jail for incitement to murder a minor. When questioned by police, she was reportedly 'unable to explain her actions'. Shock moment Russian teen TikToker threatens to have her Putin official mum send online haters to WAR sparking outrage The young girl has since been placed in care alongside two of her siblings, aged 17 and six. Svetlana also has an adult daughter, aged 18. It comes after a glamorous rapper dubbed the "Barbie Bandit" has been arrested in a dramatic police raid targeting a massive dark web drugs operation. Blonde beauty Maria L., 25, known for posing in Barbie-pink outfits and flaunting an assault rifle on social media, was seized by Russian cops in St Petersburg on May 15. The influencer-turned-trafficker is accused of helping run a slick online drugs shop — managing storage, distribution, and sales of illicit substances through the dark web. Photos online show the rapper in revealing crop tops and doll-like makeup, living a flashy life that masked a far more dangerous double identity. Police said: 'She helped sell the drugs online and also managed their storage and distribution.' During the raid, cops uncovered laptops, mobile phones, and a 'significant' stash of chemicals used to make hallucinogens — along with scales and other manufacturing gear. Meanwhile, a Russian teen TikTok star has sparked outrage after threatening to have her pro-Putin mother send online trolls to the war front. Yulia Shevtsova, a mayor in the Vologda region, was left red-faced after her 19-year-old influencer daughter made the chilling threat in a viral video. Ksenia Shevtsova infuriated viewers by boasting on TikTok: "Are you out of your mind, dude? Do you know who my mum is?" She added: "The mayor! We'll send you to the [war]." The clip, which quickly spread online, featured images and videos of Ksenia posing with her politician mum — followed by the bold claim she could send her critics to fight in Vladimir Putin's brutal war in Ukraine. 4
Washington Post
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
A former Florida Republican congressional candidate gets 3 years for threatening primary opponent
TAMPA, Fla. — A former Florida Republican congressional candidate accused of stalking and plotting to have his primary opponent murdered by a purported foreign hit squad was sentenced Wednesday to three years in federal prison. William Robert Braddock III, 41, of St. Petersburg was sentenced in Tampa federal court, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in February to sending an interstate transmission of a threat to injure.
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
A former Florida Republican congressional candidate gets 3 years for threatening primary opponent
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida Republican congressional candidate accused of stalking and plotting to have his primary opponent murdered by a purported foreign hit squad was sentenced Wednesday to three years in federal prison. William Robert Braddock III, 41, of St. Petersburg was sentenced in Tampa federal court, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in February to sending an interstate transmission of a threat to injure. In 2021, Braddock and U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna were both candidates in the primary election to represent the 13th Congressional District of Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives. Luna eventually won the primary and later the general election. She was re-elected last year. Braddock spent months disparaging Luna and attempting to inject himself into her life, investigators said. During a June 2021 telephone call with Luna's friend, GOP activist Erin Olszewski, Braddock threatened to have Luna murdered by a 'Russian-Ukrainian hit squad' if she continued to poll well in the race for the 13th District. There was no evidence that Braddock, a former Marine, had such contacts in foreign organized crime or took any steps to carry out a murder plot. Later that year, Braddock flew to Thailand and eventually settled in the Philippines, officials said. He remained there until surrendering to authorities in Manila in 2023. He was taken back to the U.S. last fall to face trial.
