Maddocks murder trial postponed

THE trial of Tonny Donile, accused of the murder of local businessman Noel Maddocks in August last year was postponed in the Port Alfred Regional Court on Tuesday until June 26.

Maddocks was stabbed 44 times at the house of Donile’s ex-girlfriend.

According to magistrate Louis Muller, Donile dismissed his defence attorney, Basil Williams.

He was granted the intervening period to appoint a new defence and brief them on his case.

Muller said at Tuesday’s trial that all witnesses had been contacted and were present in court but, as Donile had the right to choose his own counsel, nothing could be done but to postpone the trial.

He also ordered that the prosecution and defence meet in May to confirm their readiness to proceed with the trial in June.

A disappointed gallery, comprised mainly of family and friends of Maddocks, some of whom had travelled great distances to be present, left the courtroom in frustration.