Double murder accused in hospital

A MDANTSANE woman has been charged with double murder and arson after she allegedly shot her husband and immolated his lover, killing both of them.

The accused woman is in hospital after she also caught fire in the petrol-fuelled attack.

Cambridge police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi said the 45year-old woman was being treated at Cecilia Makhiwane Hospital for her burn wounds.

The matter was heard briefly in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court yesterday without the accused.

Mdantsane magistrate Fezeka Monakali was told that the woman was under heavy police guard in hospital.

Because she was not present for her first appearance, Monakali remanded the matter to January 12.

The woman, who was the dead man’s estranged wife, apparently stormed her former matrimonial home with the assistance of two men last week.

The incident took place last Wednesday in NU14.

In a police statement, Mbi said the man had been shot dead while the woman was doused with petrol and set alight.

Yesterday, Monakali said: “The accused is not here because she is in hospital but there is a medical certificate attached with our court documents.

“According to the certificate she is in hospital for the period between 28 December to January 11. Therefore the accused will be fit to take [the] stand on January 12.”

Mbi said two suspects were still at large, and it was believed the wife was burned when she became trapped in the blazing house. —