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Coligny murder trial to resume on Tuesday

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The long anticipated trial of Phillip Schutte and Pieter Doorewaard, accused of murdering 15-year-old Mathlemola Mosweu in Coligny last April, battled to get underway in the North West High Court in Mmabatho on Monday.

The presiding officer had to stand down because the interpreter was not conversant in Afrikaans. Unfamiliar with legal terminology, the interpreter also battled with Afrikaans, so judge Ronald Hendricks adjourned the matter so that another interpreter could be summoned.

In contrast to their previous court appearances when the Magistrate’s Court in Coligny was packed to capacity, the High Court was surprisingly empty. Mosweu’s parents were also absent.

As news of Mosweu’s murder spread last year, the town saw looting and the torching of houses.

He allegedly stole sunflowers.

Doorewaard and Schutte handed themselves over to police in an attempt to restore calm and were later released on bail of R5 000 each.

The case is expected to resume on Tuesday.

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