Hillary Gardee murder suspects expected to appear together for the first time at the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court

All four accused in the Hillary Gardee murder case are expected to appear for the first time together at the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga.

Sipho Mkhatshwa, Philemon Lukhele and Mduduzi Gama were arrested in May and Rassie Nkune was arrested in August for the murder of Gardee. They are facing charges that include kidnapping, murder, rape, defeating the ends of justice and conspiracy to commit murder.

They were arrested after Gardee’s body was found in a timber plantation a few kilometres outside Mbombela.

Earlier this week, the investigating officer Thamsanqa Mkhaliphi testified in Gama’s bail application.

Mkhaliphi told the Court that an eyewitness will testify that he saw Gama and Philemon Lukhele loading the deceased in a vehicle.

However, he could not confirm whether the victim was already dead or alive while being loaded into the vehicle.

Last week, the Provincial Police Commissioner, Semakaleng Manamela, testified that Nkune’s involvement in the matter has to do with him knowing the whereabouts of the firearm used in the killing.

Video: Hillary Gardee murder accused back in court