State and defence lawyers clash over witness in murder case

The three men are charged with the murder of Lesley Manga Ntshwane, which happened last May. At the centre of the storm is the testimony of Ntshwane's girlfriend. The defence had earlier hinted that they were going to use her as their witness during trial. Yesterday, when they appeared before High Court judge Key Dingake, the state filed supplementary summary of evidence and a list of witnesses with the court and the name of Ntshwane's girlfriend appeared as State witness number 20.

Defence attorney Unoda Mack, made his intentions known when he told court that they as defence lawyers, were not impressed by the the State's conduct. Mack told court that when they petitioned the High Court requesting bail for Stimela and Nkuna, they stated that one of their key witnesses was Ntshwane's girlfriend.