Magistrate gives ultimatum to Baroda robbery suspects

"Your fate is in your hands," he told Elizabeth Surtee and Maureen Moseki last Friday after lawyers for the two suspects failed to appear in court.

It was said that Surtee's lawyer, Duma Boko, was attending a conference outside the country while Tengo Rubadiri for Moseki was held up at the Industrial Court. The absence by defence lawyers did not go down well with Moroka. He complained that the case is an old one that ought to be finished. He slammed the suspects for not pushing their lawyers to move the case. He said that perhaps it would be better to revoke the bail given to Surtee and Moseki to see if they would not want a speedy trial. The magistrate instructed the two suspects to bring lawyers who are ready to proceed with the case. "I am shifting the burden from your lawyers to you," he stated.