SA Terrorism Act to be challenged

THULSIE TWINS: DEFENCE CITES CONSTITUTIONALITY

Defence counsel’s issue will be dealt with in court on October 27.

Defence counsel for terror-accused twins Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee Thulsie yesterday told the High Court in Johannesburg she intends challenging the constitutionality of the Terrorism Act.

In pre-trial proceedings, Annelene van den Heever told Judge Raylene Keightley she would be submitting a constitutional defence application which would challenge the South African Terrorism Act, under which her clients are being charged.

“Prepare a pre-trial draft with timelines,” Judge Keightley ordered, adding that the issue would be dealt with at the next appearance of the two accused.

Van den Heever said she would make other pretrial applications, which include further disclosure, access to witnesses and physical evidence from the forensic laboratory.

She also said she was unhappy with the media showing visuals of the accused as this could have an impact on evidence. Keightley said she had already seen photographs of the twins in the press.

State prosecutor Chris MacAdam countered Van den Heever, saying there were no identification issues involved in showing images of the Thulsie twins. He said the images used by the media previously were Googled and some were obtained from court files, but were not a “representation of their current standing”.

The twins have been behind bars since they were arrested in July 2016. They were arrested on suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks on various Jewish institutions and individuals, as well as attempting to join the Islamic State group. The matter was postponed to October 27. – ANA