Family question court case
The family of a Vaalbank man allegedly slain at the behest of his wife in April, say they are unhappy with the court proceedings thus far and are suspicious that police investigating officers are working for “the other side ”.
Family spokesperson Luvuyo Moyi said several incidents had made the family feel the state was working in favour of the defence.
The Rep reported (‘Estranged wife arrested for teacher s death ’, April 17) that Nosipho Maqhina, 50, and two men aged 45 and 57 had appeared in the Cacadu magistrate’s court charged with the murder of a Vaalbank teacher.
Moyi said an investigating officer initially assigned to the case had withdrawn from it after reassuring the family that they would oppose bail successfully.
However, the new officer told them otherwise, with no substantial reasons as to why, they claimed.
“The current investigator informed us that the prosecutor had said there were no grounds for the state to oppose bail for the accused’s wife.
“This prompted us to seek private legal representation so we may learn about the proceedings and why certain decisions are taken.” Moyi said one investigating officer who had visited the couple’s children to interview them about the case, had asked questions that favoured the other side ”.
“They asked them about our brother being physically abusive to the wife and children, which they denied. The children have put on record that they would lobby for their mother to be denied bail, but now we are not being given the opportunity to explore that.”
Moyi said the family was trying to have the presiding prosecutor removed from the case.
“This week we visited senior police officials in Komani to inform them of our frustration with the prosecutor and investing officers. This case has since been halted “due to Covid-19, but we need to get this out there for people to see how we re treated by people of the law who are supposed to protect us.”
SAPS spokesperson Capt Namhla Mdleleni police said the concerns would be investigated.