Six accused of killing teen to hear bail fate next week

SIX men accused of kidnapping and murdering an othongathi teenager will learn next week whether or not they will be granted bail.

This came after the defence and prosecution teams made their closing arguments in the bail application this week.

Yesterday, the State argued why Mlungisi Thabethe, 26, Andile Nhleko, 27, Mncedisi Mzobe, 27, Siyanda Msweli, 26, Lindani Ndlovu, 26, and Malusi Mthembu, 27, should not be granted bail. A seventh accused abandoned his bail application in May.

The six are accused of kidnapping and killing 16-year-old Andile “Bobo” Mbuthu in April allegedly for stealing alcohol from a shisanyama in the Hambanathi area, owned by his cousin, Thabethe.

Senior State advocate Krishen Shah spent part of his final argument responding to defence attorney Chris Gounden’s allegation that the State had been disingenuous in its investigation and prosecution.

The allegations include that after the men’s arrest, the State forced the accused to sign blank documents and assaulted the accused; and that the State had not proved why the men should not be granted bail.

“Mr Gounden fired the first salvo at the first appearance,” Shah said.

“If there was merit to the allegation then we would have investigated it. My learned friend is making his submissions without any supporting facts.”

Shah said for matters like murder, the onus was on the defence and not on the State to prove why their clients should be released on bail. He said the accused had been dishonest about where they were and their movements during the time of the murder.

“We have strong evidence against the accused,” he said.

Shah said a reason the State opposed bail was because it would upset the Hambanathi community who were angry to the point that they burnt down the shisanyama after news broke of Mbuthu’s death.

Magistrate Thiloshini Badal said she would hand down her decision next week.