Karabo murder accused in court
Media barred due to sensitivity of the case
SECURITY guards were posted outside the doors of the packed courtroom where the man accused of killing and then burning the body of his 22-year-old girlfriend Karabo Mokoena, asked for bail.
Karabo’s boyfriend, Sandile Mantsoe, 27, who was arrested earlier this month after her body, burnt beyond recognition, was recovered at a dumpsite in Lyndhurst, is asking the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court to grant him bail.
Outside, journalists were among the huge crowd of people prevented by the guards from entering the court because it was full to capacity. The guards said magistrate Carlo Labuschagne had given them strict instructions to only allow 25 people into the courtroom.
Inside the court, proceedings stalled after both prosecutor John Metswamere and the counsel for the defence asked the court to bar the media from any live broadcasting of the bail hearing. The magistrate adjourned proceedings to apply his mind.
The court ruled against the broadcasting, recording or taking of images during Mantsoe’s bail application hearing.
Magistrate Karel Labuschagne made the ruling following arguments from both the defence and State, who essentially argued that media coverage would negatively impact the ongoing investigation.
“No media house may broadcast, print, record or take any images during proceedings; only the judgment may be broadcast,” he ruled.
Speaking on the decision to oppose media coverage of the proceedings at this stage was NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane, who reiterated that the decision to oppose coverage was based on the sensitivity of certain information to be revealed during proceedings.
“As the State, we had concerns about sensitive information that will be revealed in court that will directly impact on the progress of the investigation,” she said.
Mantsoe will remain in custody at the Norwood Police Station until his next court appearance on June 9. – Staff Reporter