Woman in court after boy run over

NICOLENE Rhoda Hickman, 33, the woman accused of driving over and killing a four-year-old boy in the Beacon Bay Retail Park shopping centre two years ago, appeared briefly in the East London Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Hickman faces a charge of culpable homicide.

Hickman was driving her Renault Scenic vehicle in the complex on the afternoon of November 12 2014 when she allegedly ran over Lutho Tafeni. The accident occurred in front of the boy’s father, Ntobeko Nqandeka, 34. The boy died on the scene. Hickman has pleaded not guilty to the charge. She appeared before East London magistrate Leon Kemp together with her legal representative, Neil Ristow.

Yesterday state prosecutor Unathi Mlungu was supposed to have continued with leading evidence but one of the state witnesses was not present in court.

The case was postponed to June 13 for further evidence.

Earlier the court heard a pre-trial conference had been held where the state and defence confirmed that every effort had been made to reach a plea deal, but no agreement could be reached.

● An alleged ATM robber who was shot in the buttocks by a disabled man in a wheelchair in Vincent last week, appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Phumezo Ngqina, 44, is facing one count of robbery but state prosecutor Lerato Phakisi told the court more charges will be added after Ngqina was found in possession of Sassa bank cards. He was shot last Thursday while allegedly trying to rob a man in a wheelchair near the Balfour Park shopping complex.

His case was postponed to today for a formal bail application. —