Nelisa’s murder case starts
MBABANE – After three years of waiting, Sibusiso Nelisa Hlatshwako will finally have his day in court.
Hlatshwako is the man who stands accused of having murdered Principal Crown Counsel Stanley Dlamini. The accused, who hails from Gege under Chief Velamuva, is alleged to have committed the offence on April 25, 2018, at Msunduza.
His trial has been allocated four days beginning from August 16- 19, 2021, before Acting High Court Judge Terrence Dlamini. On Wednesday, his lawyer Noncedo Ndlangamandla informed the court that they intended securing the services of an advocate to represent Hlatshwako during the trial. Hlatshwako works at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. According to his charge sheet, he unlawfully and intentionally killed Dlamini, thereby committed the crime of murder.
One of the witnesses who will be paraded by the State during the trial will inform the court that the accused allegedly told his friends that ‘ sengiyibulele lenja’ ( I have killed the dog).
The witness, who was in the company of her friends outside popular hangout spot, Solani’s Shisanyama on April 25, 2018, alleged that she, Menzi ‘ Gauzen’ Gama and Hlatshwako were among some people who were standing outside the premises. The principal crown counsel ( Dlamini), according to the witness, was with a female companion when he came out of the entertainment establishment and she said she allegedly overheard Gama point out Dlamini to Hlatshwako.
Assault
The accused allegedly asked Gama what he should do to him. Gama is alleged to have told Hlatshwako to assault the deceased and he allegedly approached the principal Crown counsel who was intoxicated.
Hlasthwako, according to the witness, allegedly swore at Dlamini that he would kill him and he started pushing the deceased, who was staggering due to intoxication.
The civil servant allegedly picked up a brick and hit Dlamini hard with it on the face such that it was smashed into pieces and the deceased fell. Hlatshwako allegedly picked up a stone as Dlamini lay motionless on the ground and hit him on the head with it and proceeded to stomp on him on the ground.
“The accused then left with his group saying ‘ sengiyibulele lenja ( I have killed the dog.)’ Dlamini was rushed to hospital by the police where he was pronounced dead. Hlatshwako was arrested afterwards and he made his first court appearance at the magistrates court. He filed an application for bail at the High Court and he was released from custody.
At least eight witnesses will be paraded by the Crown during Hlatshwako’s trial. He has also appeared at the High Court for a pre- trial conference. A pre- trial conference involves the discussion of logistics on how the trial will be carried out.
The murder of Dlamini, popularly known as ‘ Stan’, shocked a number of residents at the densely populated location in the outskirts of Mbabane.
Shortly after Dlamini’s murder, witnesses said Hlatshwako was in the company of another well- known socialite, Gauzen Gama, who was first to be taken in to assist the Mbabane police with investigations on the matter.