Court opened to the media in Sithole murder trial
ALEXANDRA - The trial of the four accused in the killing of Emmanuel Sithole began at the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court on 22 June.
Sithole died from his stab wounds in what was labelled a xenophobic attack in Alexandra. It was the first appearance of the accused, Mthinto Bhengu, Sizwe Mngomezulu, Sifundo Mzimela and a minor who cannot be named, after the case was transferred from Alexandra Magistrates’ Court.
Newly-appointed lawyer Tshege Ntake, who is defending the minor, told the court that he needed more time to go through the photographs with his client. The photographs referred to are those taken of the 35-year-old Mozambican national while he was being stabbed on the side of the road.
In order to protect the minor’s identity, Ntake opposed an application by the media to be allowed inside the courtroom. He believed the minor should be protected by the law. However, the media was eventually allowed into the courtroom after a discussion between the lawyers and Magistrate Lucas van der Schyff.
The case continues at 9am on 23 June.
