Murder trial postponed

MOKOPANE - Magistrate Oupa Thabethe scolded the State in the Mokopane Magistrate Court on Wednesday for what he calls "the unreasonable delay in the finalisation of the Charles Mgidi and Gideon Fatana murder trial."
Although a packed court expected for Desmond Machaba, Samuel Matjila, Patrick Sekhu, Charles Mogale and Thabo Matlaila to face trial on Wednesday for the alleged murders of Gideon Fatana and Charles Mgidi earlier this year, it was postponed to 19 November. The indictment was incomplete and the five men who stand accused had their trial date postponed to furnish the defense with further particulars.  
Charles Mgidi was killed at a filling station in Mokopane only days after Gideon Fatana, a taxi owner, was gunned down outside his home. It is believed that a statement made at Fatana’s memorial service, led to Mgidi’s murder and the magistrate said in a previous appearance that he cannot separate the two cases.
The defense argued that they are not prepared to face the high court, should the trial be transferred, without proper information and a copy of the completed indictment. Mogale and Matlaila’s defense attorney, Cara Alberts, described the indictment as vague and insisted on a copy thereof to compile further particulars as part of her preparation. Machaba and Matjila’s defense, Mariba Mamabolo agreed with Alberts’ argument.