The trial of former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli and former policeman Mthembeni Mthunzi has been postponed again.
This is to allow Mthunzi’s new defence advocate‚ whom he recently appointed‚ to access all transcripts of the trial. The case was postponed to June 7.
Mdluli and Mthunzi appeared briefly in the Johannesburg High Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on the East Rand on Monday morning.
They face charges relating to the 1999 kidnapping and murder of Oupa Ramogibe‚ who was married to Mdluli’s former lover Tshidi Buthelezi.
The men are also accused of intimidation‚ assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm‚ kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice. They have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Charges against Mdluli were withdrawn in 2012‚ but reinstated in 2014 after lobby group Freedom Under Law successfully challenged the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to drop the charges.
The trial started on June 1 last year and ran for several weeks before being postponed in September to resume in January this year. The case was postponed a week ago for the same reason that prompted Monday’s postponement.