Detective testifies to conversation with driver in hit-and-run trial

AN UMBILO detective has testified that motorist Nolwazi Nzimande told him she was driving a vehicle that was involved in a hit-and-run collision.

Nzimande charged with is on trial the murder of metro police officer Phumlani Mbatha, defeating the ends of justice and contravening the Road Traffic Act.

Her co-accused, US national John Solomon, has been charged with defeating the ends of justice and being an accessory to murder after the fact.

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 in Berea Road in April 2012.

Mbatha’s body was found in Silverton Road.

It is also alleged that Solomon helped Nzimande by

later arranging for her vehicle to be cleaned and sent to a panel beater to be repaired. Both have pleaded not guilty.

The court has heard that Nzimande will testify that she was involved in another collision on the day Mbatha was knocked down, and that her car did not strike him.

Detective Sergeant Simphiwe Hlongwa said yesterday that he received a call from Nzimande’s sister who said Nzimande would be coming to the police station to hand herself over in connection with a crash in Berea Road.

Hlongwa said he had read the docket in the Mbatha case and knew that a blue VW Polo had been seized by the police.

Hlongwa said Nzimande told him that she had been driving the Polo on the day of the crash and that she had been involved in an accident.

Under cross-examination, Hlongwa was told that Nzimande would testify that she had not been talking about the crash in which Mbatha was injured.

He replied that Nzimande had not mentioned any other accident to him.

The case was adjourned to next year.

Nzimande and Solomon are out on bail.