Motorist denies knocking over cop

A WOMAN accused of knocking over an off-duty metro policeman and driving off while he was on the bonnet of her car, testified yesterday in the Durban Regional Court.

Nolwazi Nzimande was charged with Constable Phumlani Mbatha’s murder on April 4, 2012, defeating the ends of justice and contravening sections of the Road Traffic Act for failing to stop, failing to report the accident and for failing to assist the injured.

Her co-accused, American national, John Solomon, who now lives in South Africa, was charged with defeating the ends of justice and being an accessory to murder after the fact.

The pair have pleaded not guilty.

Mbatha, 26, was hit by a car and was carried on its bonnet from King Dinuzulu (Berea) Road.

He was found later in Silverton Road, Musgrave, and died in hospital.

The state alleges that Nzimande’s blue VW Polo went through a red traffic light, struck Mbatha and drove off with him on the bonnet.

It is also alleged that Solomon helped Nzimande by arranging for her vehicle to be cleaned and sent to a panel beater to be repaired.

Solomon, representing himself, denied that he had been involved in any crime. He said that on the day of the crash, Nzimande arrived at his house in a “distraught state”.

Dismissed

Just before Nzimande testified in her defence yesterday, magistrate Siphiwe Hlophe had denied Nzimande and Solomon’s application to have the charges against them dismissed.

Nzimande testified about driving along King Dinuzulu Road that night and said a man carrying an object came running out of an alley. Fearing it might be a hijacking, she testified to moving to the extreme right lane and that the object was thrown and hit the windscreen.

Nzimande said she drove to Solomon’s house in Manor Gardens and parked her car in the road outside his house. After hearing her story, she said Solomon drove to the area and said he found nothing suspicious.

She said she wanted to report the matter to the police, but then dozed off and only woke up the next morning.

She still intended to report the matter, she said, but Solomon suggested moving the car because it was not safe.

Nzimande made arrangements for a tow truck, but testified to not knowing where it was being towed. She said she and Solomon were on their way to the police station when he received a call about the car being involved in an accident.

She also received a call to this effect and waited for her father and brother at Solomon’s house before the three of them went to the Umbilo police station.

Nzimande apparently told the police about her hijacking scare and denied being involved in an accident. She said she was charged.

Soon afterwards, she said, the charges were withdrawn, but was contacted again by the police in January last year.

The trial continues.