Taxi driver murder accused grow impatient
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Thursday August 24, 2017 16:57
James Ndaba, 40, Martin Nkandla, 34, and Sam Ncube, 39, are accused of robbing and killing Odirile Kereeng on October 30, 2016 in Mogoditshane. The trio allegedly stole Kereeng’s P450 daily cash collection, Nokia mobile phone and his taxi, a silver Corolla Allex.
Since their arrest shortly after the incident, the trio has appeared numerous times for mention, with delays with the forensic report and now the committal to the High Court for trial. Yesterday, the accused said they were fed up with the delays.
“We have been coming here for some time now, but there is no picture of the direction of the case. We don’t know what’s going on. We have been waiting in jail, but the prosecutor keeps saying the same things time and again,” Ndaba told magistrate, Faith Ngandu.
His fellow accused, Ncube, bemoaned the delays, saying the prosecution had promised to complete their investigations and commit the matter to the High Court quickly.
Prosecutor in the matter, Keletso Selabe of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) said committal documents for the High Court were yet to be signed by the relevant authorities at the DPP.
Selabe successfully pleaded for an extension of remand for the three accused, while authority for committal is sought.
The prosecutor said she could not tell when the committal documents would be ready as it is procedure that her supervisors do thorough checks of cases before they proceed with prosecuting.
Commenting on the accused’s complaints, Ngandu said investigations of murder cases should be done thoroughly as the crime is a capital offence.
“The accused should not blame the prosecutor as she is awaiting the consent of her directors before committing the matter to the High Court.
“Someone has died, there is no urgency. This has to be thorough because we are dealing with a situation whereby someone has lost his life. Don’t rush the prosecution because they have to be thorough,” she said. The trio will appear in court again on September 5, 2017.