The much-publicised murder and rape case involving Amber-Lee Hughes was postponed on April 22, as Judge Richard Mkhabela was still involved in a civil matter in Pretoria.

State advocate Rolene Barnard informed the court that the available date will be June 19; they will try to get June 17 and 18 as well.

@southern.courierThe m*rder and r*pe case involving Amber-Lee Hughes was postponed once again for almost two months after the presiding judge was unavailable. Full story on southerncourier.co.za

♬ original sound – Southern Courier

She said they will try to do a virtual meeting with Mkhabela in order to confirm the other two dates.

WATCH: Judge’s unavailability brings Amber-Lee Hughes trial to another delay

The case was then postponed to June 19. Should Mkhabela be available, the case will proceed from June 17 to 19.

Elie Chalita not pleased with the postponement

The father of the late Nada-Jane, Elie Chalita, didn’t take this postponement well; he said these are tricks that he talked about in previous court sittings.

When asked how he felt about the postponement or whether he was surprised. He said, “I’m not surprised. As you’re all not surprised. I think I’ve said enough. Whatever tricks there are in the books are going to be played.

@southern.courierThe much-publicised murder and rape case involving Amber-Lee Hughes was postponed on April 22, as Judge Richard Mkhabela was still involved in a civil matter in Pretoria. Full story on southerncourier.co.za♬ original sound – Southern Courier

And maybe they’re out of tricks. So the court decided to give them a break this time. To give them more time.

WATCH: Nada-Jane father leaves court frustrated as Hughes murder trial stalls

“Between two months last time and two months this time, the judge got other cases; he is busy with civil cases. In the meantime, our lives are still on hold. And every time we get promised that we’re going to have some progress, there’s no such thing. You can see, we just keep postponing and postponing. Regardless, what’s the reason?

“We are still hanging in the middle of this. Our lives are still hanging. Everything is still on hold, and we still have to come and see her (Amber) smiling, as you see today and every time. Copy and paste. You all see the copy-and-paste repetition of everything I’ve been saying. So, how can I feel? I feel out of breath. That’s how I feel,” explained Chalita.

His hopes in terms of sentencing and outcome

“You see, I will leave that for the judge to decide because what I’m hoping for and what will happen in the court are two different things. Just as justice and law are two different things. Today we are in the process of the justice system.

“It’s been three years and three months. It screams loud enough that the court is saying that it can’t care about how we feel and how much we are hurt and how much we are rushing to get this out of the way. It’s clear we are just another case number, and today it was mentioned that the case was postponed because the judge had another civil matter. You know? So yes, it’s not the first time I hear that some mathematical disagreements somewhere between a civil issue are more important than the blood that I’ve been bleeding for the last three years and three months non-stop. This is what it says,” he said.

‘Message for my child’

“That message I can give after I see the end of this court. After I see where I’m going to land at this court. Then my message for my child, then and only then it will be permanent. You know? My message can be very, very different for my child. Before the end of this court and after the end of this court. So, whatever message I tell you now is that it’s not going to happen.

@southern.courierThe father of the late Nada-Jane, Elie Chalita, didn’t take this postponement well; he said these are tricks that he talked about in previous court sittings. Full story on southerncourier.co.za♬ original sound – Southern Courier

“You know, when we’re not here anymore, maybe this case can be left. But even if we are not here, look at how many people are following this case. Even when we are not here, the people will carry this case.

“So we are here, we’re not going anywhere. I’m going to see the end of this court one way or another. I want to hear the end of this court what it says. And then I will come back to the message to my daughter. Then it will be the final message. I’m still here. You guys mustn’t underestimate that,” noted Chalita.

WATCH: Amber Lee Hughes recounts killing of four-year-old in shocking court testimony

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