EL court hears trial within trial.
FIVE alleged contract killers, one a suspected muti killer, appeared in the East London High Court last week, shortly after a stint in the Bhisho High Court for similar crimes.
Vuyani Sibanda, 42, Isaac Phiri, 69, Thabiso Mini, 27, Sakhela Magasana, 29, and Makhaya Qwala, 34, are accused of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
A sixth man, Ntsikelelo Manani, 33, is accused of the same crimes, but is to stand trail separately after he escaped from police custody last year and was recaptured after the trial against the other five had already started.
Sibanda, Phiri, Manani and Qwala are also accused of conspiring to murder King William’s Town civil servant Ntuthuzelo Makeleni.
The East London trial includes five counts of murder, bringing the total number of murders to six, with two additional attempted murder charges. The men are currently on trial in four different trials – three of which are being heard at the Bhisho High Court.
Three weeks ago, Sibanda, who identifies himself as a sangoma, told the Bhisho High Court that he had a “reputation of killing with muti” and was “in the business of killing”.
The East London trial is currently undergoing a trial within a trial as presiding acting judge Robert Dilizo tries to determine the admissibility of the 2010 confessions made by some of the accused. The men claim they were tortured and assaulted by police officers into making their confessions.
Throughout Thursday and Friday a series of arresting and investigating officers in the various cases brought against the alleged hit men testified in court.
Hawks investigator Captain Aaron Hanise took the stand on Thursday and described how he caught and arrested the suspected ring leader, Sibanda, in August 2010.
Hanise said he was investigating the serial murders of convicted serial killer Bulelani Mabhayi in Tholeni village in Butterworth district when he received a call from Colonel Sonwabile Nkosiyane.
“I was called by Colonel Nkosiyane, who said a robbery would take place at the Willowvale post office. gave me a description of a white Mercedes Benz and a number plate. As I was coming into town, I spotted the vehicle heading out of town,” Hanise said.
Hanise said he called for backup and once other police vehicles arrived, he pulled up in front of the Mercedes Benz and ordered the occupants out of the vehicle.
State advocate Zukile Mdolomba asked Hanise who the driver of the Mercedes Benz was, to which he replied: “It’s the one with the bald head”, and pointed at Sibanda.
The trial continues today. —
Five alleged hit men face string of charges
FIVE alleged contract killers, one a suspected muti killer, appeared in the East London High Court last week, shortly after a stint in the Bhisho High Court for similar crimes.
Vuyani Sibanda, 42, Isaac Phiri, 69, Thabiso Mini, 27, Sakhela Magasana, 29, and Makhaya Qwala, 34, are accused of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
A sixth man, Ntsikelelo Manani, 33, is accused of the same crimes, but is to stand trail separately after he escaped from police custody last year and was recaptured after the trial against the other five had already started.
Sibanda, Phiri, Manani and Qwala are also accused of conspiring to murder King William’s Town civil servant Ntuthuzelo Makeleni.
The East London trial includes five counts of murder, bringing the total number of murders to six, with two additional attempted murder charges. The men are currently on trial in four different trials – three of which are being heard at the Bhisho High Court.
Three weeks ago, Sibanda, who identifies himself as a sangoma, told the Bhisho High Court that he had a “reputation of killing with muti” and was “in the business of killing”.
The East London trial is currently undergoing a trial within a trial as presiding acting judge Robert Dilizo tries to determine the admissibility of the 2010 confessions made by some of the accused. The men claim they were tortured and assaulted by police officers into making their confessions.
Throughout Thursday and Friday a series of arresting and investigating officers in the various cases brought against the alleged hit men testified in court.
Hawks investigator Captain Aaron Hanise took the stand on Thursday and described how he caught and arrested the suspected ring leader, Sibanda, in August 2010.
Hanise said he was investigating the serial murders of convicted serial killer Bulelani Mabhayi in Tholeni village in Butterworth district when he received a call from Colonel Sonwabile Nkosiyane.
“I was called by Colonel Nkosiyane, who said a robbery would take place at the Willowvale post office. gave me a description of a white Mercedes Benz and a number plate. As I was coming into town, I spotted the vehicle heading out of town,” Hanise said.
Hanise said he called for backup and once other police vehicles arrived, he pulled up in front of the Mercedes Benz and ordered the occupants out of the vehicle.
State advocate Zukile Mdolomba asked Hanise who the driver of the Mercedes Benz was, to which he replied: “It’s the one with the bald head”, and pointed at Sibanda.
The trial continues today. —
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