Advocate’s wife a suspect in murder plot

THE estranged wife of one of the country’s top senior counsels, advocate William Mokhari, appeared briefly in court this week alongside two co-accused following charges that she allegedly conspired to murder her husband.

Boitumelo Joyce Mokhari appeared with Shadrack Malipane and Jacob Malope for a formal bail hearing at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court.

Phindi Mjonondwane, Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, said the three were released on R3 000 bail each.

The men were arrested on April 14 after police received a tip-off about the alleged murder attempt. Mokhari meanwhile handed herself over at the

Sandton police station on April 20 with the assistance of her legal representative.

According to Mjonondwane, they are facing a charge of conspiracy to kill advocate Mokhari.

The police acted on information given to them, including allegations that the firearm to be used for the alleged murder attempt was allegedly delivered to a so-called prophet by the name of Malipane.

Mjonondwane said on arrival at the premises of the prophet, police conducted a search, and a firearm and ammunition were allegedly found in the boot of Malipane’s vehicle.

Prosecutor Lufuno Godfrey Maphiri, during the bail application, argued that the safety of the complainant, advocate Mokhari, would be compromised if the accused were released on bail.

He told the court that divorce proceedings instituted by advocate Mokhari against his estranged wife were at the centre of the alleged plot.

The case was postponed to June 14 for further investigations, and the three are expected to plead only at a later stage as the case will probably be referred to the high court for trial.

Advocate Mokhari is well-known in courts across the country, where he often appears on behalf of government entities. He made headlines in 2013 when he took on high court Judge John Murphy during a case involving Richard Mdluli. Mokhari, who represented the police in that matter, ended up lodging a professional misconduct complaint against Judge Murphy.