Mabunda booked off sick, his murder case postponed
MBOMBELA - The trial case of murderaccused, Mugiyo Ulrich Mabunda, was postponed yet again in the Mpumalanga High Court.
During the court proceeding on Thursday October 14, Acting Judge Cassim Moosa said the matter has been postponed to November 2.
“The accused is at Rob Ferreira
Hospital and the trial will continue when he is better. As advised by the medical practitioner he will be better in a period between three days and two weeks,” he said.
Mabunda is being accused of shooting and killing his wife, Tebogo, outside their house in Stonehenge in May last year.
His trial started on Monday October 4 and was expected to end on October 15.
On Monday October 11 the matter was postponed to Wednesday October 13 as the accused was said to be ill and unable to attend. On Wednesday October 13, he appeared in court, however he was sent to Rob Ferreira for medical attention. On
October 14 he was still in hospital.
Linnet Sibuyi, the mother of the deceased, said she is disappointed with the way in which the case is going.
“I feel the accused is intentionally delaying the matter. They are not showing any remorse towards my daughter’s death. They keep postponing,” Sibuyi said.
Monica Nyuswa, the spokesperson for the NPA, said the case had been postponed and the accused’s doctor was the last witness on the stand. "I can confirm that the trial started although the matter has been postponed. The accused is not in a good condition to stand trial. The doctor booked him off,” she said.
Mabunda pleaded guilty on Friday October 8. Defence attorney, Adv Johann de Necker, read the statement.
On the day, the state prosecutor,
Moeng Molatudi, said this plea was rejected and requested that the trial continue.
It did and witnesses were called to the stand. Tebogo’s family members and friends have been picketing outside the court since the trial started.