New Mhere evidence allowed
THE magistrate in the trial of Preshalin Naidoo, who was involved in a car accident in which Top Billing presenter Simba Mhere was killed, ruled in favour of the State yesterday, allowing it to produce evidence from a car tracking device.
On Monday, the State had made an application in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court to introduce new evidence from the tracking device that was in Naidoo’s vehicle, as well as from his insurance company.
Naidoo‚ 24, faces two charges of culpable homicide relating to the car crash in which Mhere and his passenger, Kady-Shay O’Bryan, died. The crash, which involved three cars, occurred in William Nicol Drive in Fourways‚ Johannesburg, on January 31‚ 2015.
Advocate Francois Roets, for the defence, had argued against the introduction of the evidence.
Magistrate David Mahango said the question was whether allowing the State to produce the evidence would amount to a fair trial.
He added that there would not be any prejudice suffered by Naidoo by allowing the State to produce the evidence.
Prosecutor Dinesh Nandkissor said the new evidence would be in the form of data and they felt that the facts of the case needed to be considered.
Nandkissor added that the evidence detailed the movement of Naidoo’s vehicle.
Roets had argued whether it would be fair to allow the State to produce the evidence.
“It is the State’s duty to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt and disclose what evidence they will produce,” Roets said.
The investigating officer of the case had been aware of the information in the tracker report.
“It is correct to doubt what the State is telling the court,” argued Roets.
However, Mahango ruled that the State could introduce the tracker evidence and adjourned the matter to tomorrow. – ANA NEW YORK: A Florida teenager accused of pretending to be a doctor and stealing money from an 86-year-old patient faces new charges in Virginia after authorities say he fraudulently tried to buy a luxury car.
Malachi Love-Robinson was arrested on Friday and charged with identity theft and other fraud offences after he tried to buy a Jaguar at a dealership, Stafford County Sheriff ’s officials said.
They said employees at Kargar Motors Car Dealership became suspicious when Love-Robinson applied for a car loan with an elderly woman as the co-signer on the loan. The workers called the sheriff ’s office after looking up Love-Robinson’s name in an internet search.
Deputies came to the dealership and spoke to Love-Robinson, who said he came to Virginia to buy a car for himself and another for his godmother.
The woman, who was not identified, later told deputies that she had not given Love-Robinson permission to be listed as a co-signer on the loan.
She also told police she was unaware of recent purchases made on her credit card for two iPads. The sheriff’s office says deputies seized the iPads. Sheriff ’s officials said they were still investigating, and Love-Robinson is being held in the Rappahannock Regional Jail. – AP