The 39-year-old murder suspect in the Hillary Gardee murder case has appeared briefly in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga.
Rassie Nkuna is facing charges including conspiracy to commit murder, murder, rape, defeating the ends of justice, kidnapping as well as possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Police recently confirmed that the suspect had confessed to being part of the group that murdered Gardee.
Nkuna was remanded in police custody.
He will be joining the three other accused, Sipho Mkhathswa, Philemon Lukhele and Mduduzi Gama in court on September 9.
Postponement
Advocate Nqobizitha Mlilo believes that the testimony of the police will help exonerate his clients.
Lukhele, Gama, and their co-accused Sipho Mkhatshwa are facing charges of kidnapping, rape, murder, defeating the ends of justice and conspiracy to commit murder.
The bail hearing of Lukhele and Gama was brief.
Advocate Mlilo wants to subpoena Provincial Police Commissioner Daphney Manamela and Spokesperson Selvy Mohlala before the bail hearing can continue.
Mlilo says the police should clarify reports of arrests of two more suspects in the Hillary Gardee murder case. He says the police announced that one of the suspects confessed to killing Gardee.
“The provincial commissioner and we also want to subpoena to come and deal with this preliminary issue. In that request, we would like to play the footage that we are referring to and also that they must testify to the existence or otherwise of this statement. We respectfully emphasise that our clients’ rights to a fair trial are important. I made a point in the last appearance and I respectfully reinstate that issue. And I’m making reference to Shakespeare “something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”
Bail hearing in Gardee murder postponed:
