Snag streaming murder case
Mantsoe told to appear in person
While the justice department is finding ways to ensure the safety of inmates and eliminate the cost of ferrying them between courts and prisons‚ this is not always effective.
Yesterday‚ Sandile Mantsoe, who is accused of murdering girlfriend Karabo Mokoena‚ was connected via live stream to the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court but proceedings had to be postponed because he needed to be physically present to receive his indictment.
While proceedings got under way in court‚ Mantsoe was in a room at the Johannesburg Correctional Centre‚ also known as Sun City prison.
The case, before magistrate Piet du Plessis, was promptly postponed.
Du Plessis said the matter could not proceed because he needed to physically hand Mantsoe the indictment.
“The indictments must be handed to the accused and I cannot do that on the screen‚” Du Plessis said.
Mantsoe is set to appear in court today.
He had been behind bars since May‚ when Mokoena’s charred remains were discovered in Lyndhurst.
She had been doused with pool acid and petrol, and a tyre was placed around her neck and set alight.
Her family had searched for her for days‚ circulating her picture on social media‚ not knowing that the body that had been discovered was hers.
Mantsoe has denied killing Mokoena. He claimed that he returned home on April 28 and found that she had committed suicide in the luxurious apartment that the pair had often shared.
The 27-year-old claimed to have panicked and decided to dispose of her body.
He said Mokoena had already painted him as an abusive lover and he was worried that he would be blamed for her death.
The married father of three was estranged from his wife at the time of the crime.
He faces a charge of premeditated murder and defeating the ends of justice.