Sentencing of killer brothers postponed again

THE sentencing of two Peddie brothers and their cousin who were last month found guilty of kidnapping, robbing and murdering their sisterin-law in January 2017, was yesterday postponed for the fourth time this month by Bhisho High Court.

Brothers Ayabulela Maliza, 22, Odwa Maliza, 18, and their Mdantsane cousin, Vuyolwethu “Mashava” Mkwaniso, 26, were supposed to hear their fate yesterday after they were found guilty last month of brutally killing their elder brother’s 25-yearold wife Noluthabo Vellem-Maliza on January 13 2017.

However, they will have to wait after their sentencing was again postponed due to the unavailability of trial presiding judge, Nomathamsanqa Beshe, who is on sick leave.

The trio yesterday made a brief appearance at the high court, which was packed to capacity ahead of the verdict.

However, state prosecutor Advocate Deolin Willemse told presiding judge Belinda Hartle that Judge Beshe was still not feeling well.

The matter was postponed to tomorrow, so that a date when Beshe will finally be able to deliver her judgment can be communicated.

Sentencing was supposed to have taken place on June 1, but had to be postponed by a day because Ayabulela’s lawyer was unavailable.

On June 2, sentencing was postponed to June 5 because Odwa’s lawyer fell ill. Then on June 5, the matter was postponed to yesterday because Beshe was off sick. It was the same story again yesterday as Beshe was still on sick leave.

The three men were arrested on January 17 2017, just four days after Vellem-Maliza was abducted on January 13 2017 outside the Peddie Magistrate’s Court and her body was found dumped 27km outside the town in the bushes next to her husband’s car. —